Discussion

Orchids

There are roughly 28,000 different kinds of orchids, and horticulturalists have created over 100,000 hybrids. The vanilla plant, source of vanilla beans, is an orchid. 

Orchids are native to every continent except Antarctica, and though they are most commonly found in tropical climates, they occur in other habitat zones, too, including above the arctic circle. Besides their ornamental value, orchids are important in the perfume industry, and some orchids besides the vanilla plant are used in cooking.

Shunran

The type of orchid that is the model for this week's painting demonstration is named shunran, the literal meaning in Japanese of which is spring (shun) orchid (ran). Another name for it is Noble Orchid. Searching for shunran on the web often results in links to cymbidiums. They are not the same plant. For one thing, shunran have only one blossom per stem while cymbidiums often have many.

Shunran in Japan grow wild in satoyama, forested border regions between flat lands and mountains. The shape of the blossom provides a stable platform supporting cross pollination by insects. It has been cultivated since the Edo period (1603-1868). Its blossom is edible. Shunran are used in Japan to celebrate happy occasions.

Orchid lovers with a preference for wild varieties pose a threat to the continuing existence of shunran in their native habitat.

Taikan

The shunran picture below was painted by Taikan Yokoyama (1868-1958). His real name was Sakai Hidemaro, and he was a major figure in Japan's pre-WWII art world. After the reopening of Japan in the 19th century, there had been a rush by Japanese artists to adopt newly revealed Western painting styles and techniques. Taikan was a leader in the nihonga (Japanese-style pictures) movement, a 20th century return to traditional Japanese painting styles and techniques combined with more modern techniques such as perspective and shading.  Among the traditional Japanese schools of art, Taikan was especially fond of the Rinpa style.

The shape of this painting is of an unfolded fan. Many such paintings exist in Japanese art. Paintings were done on real fans, too.

Painted in the year he died, the picture below, Snowy Peak with Cranes, is one of Taikan's last.