Insects and Flowers

Artist unknown

More than 26 feet long, this scroll presents insects, reptiles, and plants in delicate brushwork and pale colors, referring in style to earlier Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279) bird-and-flower paintings. Upon closer inspection, ants dismember a butterfly and reptiles wait to ambush their prey.<br><br>An inscription at the end of the painting gives us an idea of its meaning: Attributed to the Qing dynasty scholar Zhang Xigeng (張錫庚, 1801–1861), the inscriber relates the work to an earlier painting by Qian Xuan (錢選, c. 1235–before 1307) and further suggests that the painting may allude to the relentlessness of natural selection. By drawing a parallel to tumultuous episodes in Chinese history, the writer might even hint at the domestic rebellions and the aggression of Western powers against China in his lifetime, particularly the Opium Wars (1839–60).

Artwork details

Date: c. 1900
Medium: Handscroll; ink and color on paper
Dimensions: Overall: 30.5 x 799 cm (12 x 314 9/16 in.)
Culture: China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911) or Republican period (1912-49)
Collection: Chinese Art

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landscape artwork · 30000 × 984 pixels

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Artwork total

Rs. 1030

Artwork cost: Rs. 1000

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SIZE & CUSTOMIZATION

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Size / customization

Artwork size: 30" × 1"

Whole-inch standard sizes may trim a small amount from the edges. Artwork is never stretched.