East Asian Art Peacocks in Peach Tree under Moonlight Made in Korea, AsiaJoseon Dynasty (1392-1910), 19th century Artist/maker unknown, Korean Ink and color on paper; framed Currently not on view 1970-259-1b |
Gift of Mrs. W. James Anderson, Mrs. Samuel Bell, Jr., Mrs. Richard Drayton, and Charles T. Ludington, Jr., in memory of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Townsend Ludington, 1970LabelThis bird-and-flower painting, one of a pair, exemplifies the superb artistic achievements of nineteenth-century Joseon dynasty court painters. This panel shows a peacock couple and six young, with a peach tree, peonies, and the moon. Extensive research conducted during a recent conservation project revealed that this painting, and its pair, were most likely attached to the wall of a Joseon palace, serving both as wall adornment and as symbols of good fortune. It is extremely rare to see birds portrayed with their young, which is believed to convey the wish for many offspring. Such symbolism is further supported by the inclusion of the moon and sun, a pairing that represents the harmony of Asian cosmic energy, yin and yang, dark and light, female and male. |
