Cranes and Pines
Artist
Gwang-chon (Korean, Active 20th century)Date
late 19th - early 20th centuryMedium
Ink and pigment on silk, scrollDimensions
Work : 22 5/8 in. high (57.47 cm)Credit Line
Gift of John '54 and Reda '57 SantingaObject Number
2018.5.14Label
In traditional Korean culture, cranes and pine trees were both considered symbols of longevity. They often appear together in works of art that were made to be presented as gifts on birthdays, anniversaries and other commemorative occasions. The intentionally flat, decorative style of this painting is similar to styles that also flourished in China and Japan during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and demonstrates the close connections that have historically existed between the arts of those three countries.