兰鸟Orchids and Myna

A tall, narrow sheet. A great rock rises from the lower left and leans out to the right near the top, rubbed in with the side of a pale-ink brush so the paper shows through; its ridges are drawn in dark ink and studded with clusters of ink dots around mineral green. On its summit perches a myna, glossy black with a white flash on the wing, a long pale beak and a touch of red at the eye, leaning forward to look down, set down in a few broad strokes of dark ink. Below the rock grow tufts of orchid, their long leaves swept out in pale ink, with a few purple flowers among them.

The inscription at the upper right is signed Jumei. The orchid is the flower of the gentleman, its scent carrying far; the myna, clever and talkative, is a bird of good cheer. One rock, one bird and a few orchids make a quiet, spare picture.

画幅狭长。巨石一方自左下拔地而起，至上部向右斜挑，淡墨侧锋皴擦，飞白处见纸，石棱以浓墨勾勒，墨点攒簇，中填石绿，跳跃醒目。石顶八哥一只，墨羽黑亮，翅现白斑，长喙淡黄，目周一点朱红，俯身下视，浓墨大笔写出，形简神足。石下兰草数丛，长叶以淡墨挥写，舒展飘逸，紫花数朵点缀其间。

右上题款，署菊梅。兰为君子之花，幽香自远；八哥灵慧善鸣，寓喜庆吉祥。一石一鸟数茎兰，笔简意足，清雅可观。