Magpies and Peach Blossoms

Giclée art print on German made rice paper.

About the Artwork：

Magpies and Peach Blossoms, Qing Dynasty. Yun Shouping. Ink and color on rice paper.

"Magpies and Peach Blossoms" symbolizes auspiciousness and beauty. The magpie stands for joy and celebration, whereas the peach blossom represents the beauty of spring and love. In its composition, it adopts the traditional Chinese flower and bird painting approach of "以虛托實", using a less distinct background to enhance and emphasize the meticulously depicted foreground. Artistically, it embodies the European emphasis on light and shadow and perspective. Through delicate brushstrokes, the textures of petals, leaves, and bird feathers are intricately portrayed, offering an artistic style that diverges significantly from traditional Chinese flower and bird paintings.

About the Artist：

Lang Shining (1688-1766), originally from Milan, Italy, was a court painter during the Qing Dynasty's Kangxi era. He adeptly integrated both Chinese and Western painting techniques. Not only did he emphasize the three-dimensional effects prominent in Western art, paying careful attention to perspective and the play of light and shadow, but he also prioritized realism and the accuracy of structure. He excelled in portraits, animals, flowers, and fruits, with a particular talent for depicting horses.

Made in USA