Orchids, 1849
Ōtsuki Bankeiexpand_more
Ink on paperexpand_more
Gift of Ruth and Bruce Daytonexpand_more 98.18.11
Not on Viewexpand_more
Since the time of Ch'u Yuan (332-268) in China, the orchid has symbolized the purity and uncompromising moral fortitude of scholars. O_tsuki Bankei was renowned as a Confucian scholar and served as an imperial tutor. He was dismayed when Japan was unable to resist demands from western countries to open its ports to international trade in the mid-19th century. For a time he was even imprisoned for his involvement with the resistance forces. It is appropriate, therefore, that he often chose to paint orchids. Here, Bankei created a handscroll nearly fifteen feet in length showing clumps of freely brushed orchids interspersed among poetry. Despite the turmoil Bankei experienced, his verses are lyrically aloof. The first poem on the far right may be translated in the following manner:
The winds of spring have already blown,
The streets are filled with the fragrance of orchids from bamboo baskets
Why don't we sell them to people for a trifle,
Instead of letting the mountain deer feed upon them'
Details
- Title
- Orchids
- Artist Life
- 1801 - 1878
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 98.18.11
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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