An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Grapevineearly 1800s
Choe Seok-hwan
July is the season of the ripening deep blue grapes, and also the month when the monsoon season begins in Korea. To the accompaniment of stormy summer wind, grape vines make a spectacular full circle across the surface of this eight-panel folding screen. The artist employed a variety of ink tones to create a sense of swift movement of grapevines amid turbulent storms. <br><br>Since their first introduction to the Korean peninsula around the 7th century through the Silk Road, grapes were used as artistic motifs. Artists embellished the surface of mother-of-pearl lacquer boxes or blue-and-white porcelain, while scholar-poets composed poems about the luscious sweet sourness of green grapes. By the late 19th century, grapes became the icon of fertility: the fruit grows in large clusters of many individual grapes, evoking the image of a stable clan with many descendants.
Grapes in premodern East Asia symbolize many children.
eight-panel folding screen; ink on paper
Image: 100.5 x 345 cm (39 9/16 x 135 13/16 in.)
Gift from the Collection of George Gund III
In July, the air hums softly with the spirit of summer, as the deep blue grapes swell on their vines, reaching for the sun. This month carries with it the whispers of the monsoon, a dance of rain and wind as the clouds gather above the Korean landscape. The stormy summer winds swirl with an energy all their own, casting an enchanting spell over the grapevines. Like a life force in full bloom, these vines make an impressive arc, artistically captured on an eight-panel folding screen that narrates their journey.
The artist, with a delicate hand and an imaginative heart, used a medley of ink tones that seem to ripple across the surface. Each stroke makes the grapevines appear to sway and bend, moving rhythmically with the gusts of wind, caught in a fierce yet beautiful tempest. It's a sight that stirs the soul, invoking both the energy of the storm and the serenity of the grapes’ deep hues.
Grapes weren’t always so cherished in Korea, having traveled all the way from foreign lands along the Silk Road around the 7th century. Once they reached the peninsula, they became much more than mere fruit; they evolved into vibrant motifs adorning exquisitely crafted mother-of-pearl lacquer boxes and elegant blue-and-white porcelain. The artist’s predecessors, scholar-poets, found inspiration in the luscious sweetness tinged with a hint of sourness of the green grapes. Their pens danced over paper, weaving verses that celebrated this enchanting fruit.
By the late 19th century, grapes gained a new identity, taking on the symbolism of fertility. Each juicy cluster now represented the idea of a stable lineage, evoking the imagery of extended families bound together in harmony, flourishing like vines reaching for the sky.
In the heart of the storm, amidst the swirling ink and ripening grapes, lies a story of connection—between nature and artistry, history and symbolism, forever inviting us to savor the rich narratives woven into the tapestry of life.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
The best place to view Cleveland Museum of Art‘s artwork is on Galleree. Hear the story behind this work, interact with the image, discuss with people, curate your own playlists, and discover so much more from great artists and institutions alike.