Peony & Kwannon – Hermann Dudley Murphy
Hermann Dudley Murphy’s Peony & Kwannon is a thoughtful, mature work that starkly contrasts with the artist’s earlier impressionistic work. Murphy, originally celebrated as one of the Boston Impressionists and the proprietor of a frame shop, took a fascinating turn in his career. He abandoned the loose brushwork of his youth to delve into the realm of traditional floral still-life painting. This transition is evident in this painting, dating to 1931. However, it would be a mistake to describe this elegant work as simple, as not only is its subject beautifully composed, but there is a substantial amount of rich symbolism throughout the work.
The term Kwannon is the Japanese version of the word Guanyin, the figure in Buddhism and Chinese folk religion associated with mercy. This is the figure represented on the textile in the background. Although typically referred to in feminine terms, Guanyin is represented here with her robes open at the front, symbolizing androgyny and conveying that mercy resides in everyone. She carries a vessel of water in one hand and the branch of a willow tree in the other. The water is meant to represent purity, while the Willow branch represents strength and flexibility. The way Murphy has positioned the textile in relation to the flower makes it seem like she is bringing the peony into being with a flick of a wand. The two subjects also represent beauty of two kinds. The white flowers symbolize natural beauty, while Guanyin represents kindness and compassion, embodying inner human beauty.
The meaning behind the painting’s subjects and their placement in relation to one another is too complex for it to have been an accident on Murphy’s part. It demonstrates that the artist included the Japanese textile not just for its exotic appeal, but because he had a greater understanding of what Guanyin is meant to represent. It shows a level of artistic appreciation and cultural sensitivity not often seen among his contemporaries.
Hermann Dudley Murphy (1867 – 1945) Peony and Kwannon Oil on canvas 30 x 24 inches Signed; also signed, titled, and dated ‘1931’ on the reverse