Chinese No.4 1856

Owen Jones created this chromolithograph titled "Chinese No.4". The patterns demonstrate the visual language of Chinese ornamentation. The prominent symbols are the flowers and fruits. In Chinese culture, the peach is a symbol of immortality and unity. We see variations of these symbols repeated throughout the artwork, reflecting cultural values of prosperity. These elements transcend mere aesthetics; they become vessels of deeply ingrained cultural meanings. I am reminded of the Renaissance, with the symbolic use of fruits and flowers to express religious and philosophical concepts. The pomegranate, for example, symbolized fertility and abundance, as seen in Botticelli's "Madonna of the Pomegranate." This echoes through time, resurfacing in Chinese art with its own cultural nuances. The recurring use of blossoms evokes a sense of rebirth, an attempt to capture the eternal return of nature's beauty. These motifs have been passed down, evolving through cultures, demonstrating our shared, subconscious connection to nature and its cycles.