Prunus in flower 1694

Curator: Let's spend a few moments with Shitao's "Prunus in Flower" created in 1694 using ink on paper. What do you think of the artwork's first impact? Editor: It feels…like a song barely whispered. Quiet. There’s an incredible dynamism in the starkness of the ink, but also a lightness that lifts the whole scene. It's an immediate and subtle impression. Curator: You have captured it wonderfully. The prunus, or plum blossom, carries rich symbolic weight in Chinese art. It's a herald of spring, rebirth, resilience… Editor: Exactly, a potent emblem of survival because it blossoms even amidst the cold of winter! Look at the way the bare branches reach, defying the blank space, bursting forth. But then the calligraphy too becomes interwoven as part of the composition; a testament of a season. Curator: Precisely. The poetry integrated with the brushstrokes. And while this monochrome palette is strikingly simple, it is used so well, even sparingly, which evokes a depth of space and time, if I can express myself in these terms! Editor: You can, you can! It suggests an ongoing renewal, and that bold trunk anchored in the corner offers reassurance. What's especially interesting is the absence. The 'emptiness' feels significant. The prunus flowers aren’t overwhelming; there's a restraint, almost a modesty to its show, wouldn’t you say? Curator: Absolutely. Shitao embraces emptiness as a vital component—like the rests in a musical piece that are just as essential as the notes! It asks for contemplation and that’s what connects to one’s soul I feel. Editor: Beautiful. It is more than what we actually see. Curator: Exactly. It is what it brings to each one of us.