Both the outlines and washes of this ″boneless″ peony are done purely in ink, yet the results are so satisfying that the flower looks good enough to pick. A skilled calligrapher and painter, Wang Ku-hsiang excelled at depictions of flowers and birds. His paintings from nature, his sense of coloring, and his applications of ink washes are all characterized by refinement and technical virtuosity. Wang was from Ch’ang-chou in Kiangsu. His style name was Lu-chih; his sobriquet, Yu-Shih. He attained the Advanced Degree in the Chia-ching era (1522-1566) and served as Assistant Department Director in the Ministry of Rites.