Orchids and Bamboo

Object Details

• Artist

  Gyokuen Bonpo 玉畹梵芳 (1348-ca. 1420)

• Label

  Zen monk-painters of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries admired the ideals and styles of Chinese ink painting, which they practiced and established in Japan. Their paintings were kept and admired in Japanese Zen Buddhist monasteries and other prestigious collections. Wild orchids growing naturally symbolized the high moral character of Chinese scholars who dwelt in remote mountain retreats.

  In this elegant rendering of the subject, Gyokuen Bompo, a Zen Buddhist monk and abbot of two large monasteries in Kyoto--Kenninji and Nanzenji--has created a distinctive image of orchids with long leaves reaching upward. In later periods, the paintings of Japanese Zen monk-painters, especially those associated with Kyoto monasteries, continued to influence and to be admired by painters.

• Provenance

  At least 1956-no later than 1966

  Reportedly owned by Yōtarō Yahata, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  ?-1966

  N. V. Hammer, Inc., New York, method of acquisition unknown [2]

  From 1967

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from N. V. Hammer, Inc., New York [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See “Kokka” [journal] no. 768 (January 1956): pl. 4. Entry for plate 4, described as “Orchids and Rocks, by Bonpō,” is said to be “in the possession of Mr. Yōtarō Yahata, Hida.” However, this has been crossed-out, with object number “67.10” written next to it.

  [2] See object file for copy of Freer Gallery of Art vault record no. V73.66, showing that the object, described as “Painting: Muromachi-Suiboku by Gyokuen Bompo, orchids and bamboos”, was left by N. V. Hammer on May 26, 1966, for examination. Nathan Vadim Hammer (1917-1980) was the owner of N.V. Hammer, Inc. Far Eastern Art in New York City. The son of Russian-Polish immigrants, he joined his father in the family business, United Metal Box Co., which made kitchen and bath cabinetry for higher-end hotels and apartment buildings. In 1942, the company received its first U. S. federal contract for a 1.5 million ammunition boxes. Nathan served as a Vice President for the company for many years, and about 1975 he and his second wife, Marion (Ariowitsch) Hammer, relocated to Switzerland, where Marion was born. After Nathan’s death, Marion would continue to sell art and antiquities in her own name.

  [3] See object file for copy of N. V. Hammer, Inc. invoice to the Freer Gallery of Art, dated April 24, 1967, and approved by the Secretary on June 15, 1966.

  Research updated August 8, 2023

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Mind Over Matter: Zen in Medieval Japan (March 5, 2022 - July 24, 2022)

  The Orchid in Chinese Painting (January 15 to July 17, 2011)

  More Than Flowers: Sources of Tradition in Japanese Painting (September 2, 2001 to November 24, 2002)

  Life of a Japanese Painting (December 1, 1995 to October 16, 1996)

  The Arts of China (November 18, 1990 to September 7, 2014)

  Luminous Shadows (April 1, 1982 to June 21, 1982)

  Japanese Ceramics (April 11, 1978 to January 17, 1980)

  Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons in Japanese Art (September 14, 1977 to April 8, 1978)

  Japanese Art (July 1, 1974 to April 10, 1978)

  Japanese Art: Paintings and Pottery (July 1, 1966 to May 2, 1973)

• Previous custodian or owner

  N.V. Hammer, Inc.

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1500s, 1400s

• Name

  N.V. Hammer, Inc.

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Art, Muromachi period (1333 - 1573), Japanese Art, Bamboo, Kakemono

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings