XU GU (1824-1896)

Plum Blossoms in a Crystal Vase presents a simple yet elegant composition. The plum blossoms, brightly coloured and carefully rendered, stand tall and straight to convey calmness and uprightness, the high moral qualities this flower often signifies in traditional Chinese culture. Xu Gu cleverly accentuated the flowers and demarcated space through the use of ink in various intensities to depict the flower stamens, calyxes, as well as branches outside and inside the semi-transparent crystal vase. The result is a visual enjoyment full of symmetry and serenity, a work that is both decorative and contemplative in nature.