Persimon Canvas Print

Persimon is a painting in traditional Chinese free style (Xie Yi) or Zen style with ink on rice paper. When I came to China, for the first time in my life I saw these fruits on a tree. They are tasting delicious. Later I found out, they are a meaningful subject for Chinese paintings as well. Persimmons are usually depicted with a lily's bulb and tangerine to symbolise good fortune and great profit. The persimmon is coloured a light red and has much the appearance of an apple. Owing to its bright and festive colour the persimmon is an emblem of joy. When five persimmons are combined with crab apple blossoms, they convey a wish that five generations are alive at the same time. The XieYi technique, also called "Free Style", is painted fresh from the hand and the design of the image is subject to few restrictions. Xie means to write and Yi the meaning. A famous Master of Chinese painting, said that Xieyi indicated the fact of drawing the spirit of the beings. Painting Xieyi uses many techniques of calligraphy which privilege the spontaneity of the line. Free style paintings are thus very quickly carried out. In the style of calligraphy, the image should not be painted, but written.