Description

Two abundantly full tree peonies open at the center of the composition, their countless creamy white petals delicately tinged with pink toward the outer edges and interspersed within by bright yellow stamens tipped in red. A third blossom stands at left, still half closed, while at upper right three slender buds sit on bare branches.

The foliage is rendered with great care and differentiation: robust blue-green leaves in the upper area, rust-red tinted leaves with pale veins further below, along with the dark-mottled, woody stems rising from a cluster of fine blades of grass. Against the muted olive-green ground, the splendor of the blossoms appears especially luminous. Even the small pink buds at the base of the stems are individually worked out, showing how closely the plant was observed.

The tree peony is regarded in East Asia as the queen of flowers and stands for prosperity, prestige, and beauty; its blooming period in late spring was traditionally celebrated in its own right. Signature and red seals are placed at lower and upper right. Executed as a silkscreen print on silk, this hanging scroll, White Tree Peonies in Full Bloom, is a splendid, festive piece.