Feng Meng of the Han Dynasty by Pieter Schenk

Feng Meng of the Han Dynasty 1702

aged paper

toned paper

blue ink drawing

personal sketchbook

coloured pencil

sketchbook drawing

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

sketchbook art

watercolor

"Feng Meng of the Han Dynasty" is a 1702 engraving by Dutch artist Pieter Schenk, depicting a Chinese man kneeling in prayer within a room. The scene is framed by a decorative blue border with a Chinese inscription, highlighting the Dutch fascination with Eastern cultures. The artwork's small scale (135 mm x 135 mm) suggests it was likely a private print, rather than a public exhibition piece. This engraving is a testament to the growing interest in Chinoiserie, a European artistic style inspired by Chinese aesthetics, during the 17th and 18th centuries.

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rijksmuseum over 1 year ago

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Schenk the elder depicted T’ao Ch’ien looking over his flower garden, enjoying his retirement from civic service. These etchings are two of eight roundels illustrating Chinese history, which Schenk copied from Chinese woodcuts. Using watercolour, these handcoloured prints mimick the chinoiserie designs on Meissen and Delftware, such as the vase and beer tankard also on display.