折枝牡丹A Branch of Peony

A fabric picture on a ground of white damask, its woven scrollwork pattern showing softly in the light. A single cut branch of peony crosses the sheet, the flower in full bloom at the upper right. Its many petals, cut from scarlet and rose-pink cloth, gather in layers from the outside in; they are lightly padded and their edges lift a little, so the flower has real depth. At the heart stands a cluster of fine white stamens tipped with yellow, the liveliest point of the picture. The branch is cut from russet cloth and bends with some force, and the leaves, in groups of three or five in darker and lighter greens, spread out to the left to balance the flower. A square seal is stamped at the lower left and an oval one at the upper right.

The peony, king of flowers, stands for wealth and honor. The picture has no title; this one describes it.

此为布艺贴画，以白色提花绸为地，卷草暗纹隐约可见，光泽温润。画折枝牡丹一枝，花头盛放，偏于右上：花瓣以朱红、桃红两色布剪成，瓣片繁复，自外而内层层攒聚，内衬薄棉，边缘微翘，起伏有致；花心簇以黄头白丝之花蕊，纤细挺秀，为全图精神所在。枝干以赭褐布剪出，曲折有力；绿叶三五成组，深浅相间，向左舒展，与花头相呼应，疏密得宜。左下钤方印，右上钤椭圆闲章。

牡丹为花中之王，寓富贵吉祥。此作未题画名，题目依画意拟定。