Traditional Chinese Iris - one Postcard

Traditional Chinese Iris - one is a painting in traditional Chinese free style (Xie Yi) technique with ink on rice paper. The iris is collectively known in Chinese as lan (兰) or lanhua (兰花). They are highly valued for their delicate fragrance and are always associated with elegance. The iris used to represent good taste and beauty in Chinese traditional culture. They symbolise elegance, nobility, and self-respect. They also belong to the "Four Gentlemen of Chinese Painting" - the plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum and represent one of the four seasons! In Feng Shui Orchids are commonly used as an alternative symbol for the lotus to represent the season of summer. Chinese Orchid Paintings are especially associated with women, love, and beauty; and secondly, with virtue, moral excellence. When orchids are depicted flowering together with the sweet osmanthus, which represents the hope of descendants would be thriving and dignitary. The XieYi technique, also called "Free Style", is painted fresh from the hand and the design of the image is subject to few restrictions. Xie means to write and Yi the meaning. A famous Master of Chinese painting said that XieYi indicated the fact of drawing the spirit of the beings. Painting Xie Yi uses many techniques of calligraphy which privilege the spontaneity of the line. Free style paintings are thus very quickly carried out. The image is not really painted but rather written. In China, calligraphy always belongs to the painting. It’s like the signature from the artist. The bigger characters are always the title of the painting. The smaller calligraphy shows the name of the artist and sometimes where and when the painting was created. On the picture is written "you lan piao chun - yi mo nian - bai jie hua yu nan jingi” which means “Silent iris swinging in spring - year of the goat (2015) - painted by Bai Jie in Nanjing.” Bai Jie is my Chinese name. You can also buy it without the calligraphy! Check out my gallery.