Label Type
Tombstone LabelLabel
In the Peach Orchard, We Can Plant Grain
Suo Zhijun (Chinese, b. 1947)
1980
Paint on rice paper
Gift of Andrea and Irv Green, 2019.1.65Label Type
Cultural/Historical ContextLabel
This painting reflects the principle of wasting no space – both in agriculture and in art. During a time when arable land in China was limited and famine under Mao’s regime had left deep scars, farmers were often encouraged to maximize every inch of land. This painting asks a simple yet profound question: If a peach orchard can thrive, why not plant grain there too?
The title comes from a poem written during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, when the phrase symbolized the desire to retreat from a troubled society and find peace in rural life. The painting conveys the joy of farming and the contentment of living off the land – both literal and symbolic meanings that resonate throughout the piece.
Painted in the 1980s, this work also represents a sense of freedom and renewal in the post-Mao era. A multigenerational family is enjoying the pleasures of working the land together; they are able to farm as they wish after decades of collectivized agriculture.
Suo, born in 1947, has created over 500 paintings, with more than 100 published and 30 receiving local and national awards. He was also a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. In the Peach Orchard, We Can Plant Grain earned second prize in Shaanxi Province and is one of only three versions. It stands as both a celebration of rural life and a quiet reflection on resilience, autonomy, and the enduring value of the land.