Dimensions: 68 cm x 45 cm

Ink and color on paper, mounted as a hanging scroll. The painting depicts a blossoming peach branch laden with large ripe fruit, executed in expressive brushstrokes with vibrant washes of red and yellow. The peaches, a traditional Chinese symbol of longevity and immortality, are accompanied by calligraphic inscriptions and the artist’s seals.

Gu Wenbin, also known by his style name Shouquan, was a Qing dynasty scholar-official and painter celebrated for his refined literati works, in which painting and poetry are seamlessly combined. His use of symbolic imagery such as peaches reflects the auspicious themes favored by the Qing court and elite circles.

This scroll represents the literati tradition of combining poetry, calligraphy, and painting into a unified work of art, serving not only as decoration but as a bearer of blessings and scholarly refinement.

According to the inscriptions, this painting was created in 1878 especially to celebrate his friend's 50th birthday. The longevity peach has a special meaning in Chinese culture and is generally used to represent longevity and happiness.