Chinese Iris - bw Photo Postcard

Chinese Iris is a brush painting of an orchid in traditional Chinese free style technique (Xie Yi) with ink on rice paper. Orchids are collectively known in Chinese as lan (兰) or lanhua (兰花). They are highly valued for their delicate fragrance and always associated with elegance. The orchid 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 summer. Chinese Orchid Paintings are specially 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.