Lotus and Kingfisher

Lotus blossom and kingfisher both symbolize a happy marriage and—related to season—the summer, which in turn stands for the period between youth and advanced age. Such interpretations are intentional in bird-and-flower painting. This is one of the three classical themes of painting practiced since the Tang dynasty (618–907) and was specified in the 10th century as exemplary. Stylistically dominating this picture are the leaves, which are large-scale and without much spatial delineation, retreating optically behind the finely detailed lotus blossoms.