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Orchids

Ma Lin Chinese
second quarter of the 13th century
Not on view
This exquisite representation of an orchid, signed by Ma Lin, son of Ma Yuan (act. ca. 1190-1225), exemplifies the style of formal realism favored by the aristocratic Southern Song court. The simple asymmetrical balance of flowers and leaves, meticulously rendered in subtle shades of lavender, white, and malachite green, bespeaks a consciously aestheticizing sensibility. Such flower paintings recall late Southern Song lyric poems about flowers.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 南宋 馬麟 蘭花圖 冊頁 絹本
  • Title: Orchids
  • Artist: Ma Lin (Chinese, ca. 1180– after 1256)
  • Period: Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279)
  • Date: second quarter of the 13th century
  • Culture: China
  • Medium: Album leaf; ink and color on silk
  • Dimensions: Image: 10 7/16 x 8 7/8 in. (26.5 x 22.5 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Ex coll.: C. C. Wang Family, Gift of The Dillon Fund, 1973
  • Object Number: 1973.120.10
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

Audio

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7417. Orchids

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Ma Lin - Orchids - China - Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279) - The Metropolitan Museum of Art