Spring in Luoyang

Chen Chun (1483–1544) was a master of flower-and-bird painting, especially the freehand style. Spring in Luoyang is a handscroll he painted at age 57, showing his mature, bold, and expressive brushwork.

The painting combines two subjects: a Taihu garden rock and peonies. Luoyang was famous for its peonies. Chen Chun uses both color and ink. The peonies are painted in the boneless method — without outlines — using bright red and soft green. They are lush, full, and alive.

The rock is a different story. It is drawn with dry, rough brushstrokes. Some strokes are light washes, others are dark, sharp lines. The rock looks ancient, wrinkled, and solid. Next to the soft flowers, it creates a wonderful contrast: hard vs. soft, dark vs. bright, rugged vs. refined.

Chen Chun studied under Wen Zhengming, but he found his own path. His brush is free, even wild at times, but never careless. Every stroke has purpose. This scroll shows the joy of spring — not perfect and polished, but fresh and full of energy.