Grapevine and Squirrels, 18th-19th century
Unknown Japaneseexpand_more
Ink on silkexpand_more
Mary Griggs Burke Collection, Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundationexpand_more 2015.79.526
Not on Viewexpand_more
The Chinese monk artist Tzu-wen Jih-kuan first popularized ink monochrome paintings of grapes during the 13th century. The twisting vines, curling tendrils and round, plump grapes provided ample opportunity for expressive "brush play." They may also have been painting to express the scholar-artist's fondness for wine. The combination of squirrels and grapevines, as seen here, is actually a rebus, or word pun. In Korean, the word for "squirrel" sounds like "pine," and the word for "grape" sounds like "peach." Since pines and peaches are longstanding symbols of long life in China and Korea, squirrels and grapes, when pronounced, is a playful wish for continued good health.
Details
- Title
- Grapevine and Squirrels
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2015.79.526
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Murase, Art through a Lifetime, no. 1014
- Curator Approved
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