Blossoming Plum Branch, Unknown Artist, possibly 15th century

Unknown Artist

Blossoming Plum Branch

possibly 15th century · Painting

Can I see it?

Not on view at present

Where is “Blossoming Plum Branch” now? Collection: Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge. Not on view at present. Checked September 29, 2026.

Harvard Art Museums

Cambridge, United States

It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.

Checked
In this state since
Source
The museum

About the painting

Executed in plain black ink on paper, this monochromatic painting in vertical hanging scroll format depicts a delicate branch of blossoming plum. Dotted with clusters of flowers and buds, the main branch rises gracefully in a reverse s-curve from an old broken trunk, which appears only in partial view at the lower right corner of the composition. To the right of the main branch, two new, completely straight, nearly flowerless branches sprout vertically from the old trunk as perfect parallel lines, in stark contrast to the curving branch of blossoms. A signature and seal, purportedly by the artist, appear at the lower left corner.

Harvard Art Museums

Details

Accession number
2013.49

In the catalog

Sources

On view at Harvard Art Museums

Museum page