Beauty in Winter 17th-18th century

hanging-scroll, ink, color-on-paper

aged paper

toned paper

light pencil work

pencil sketch

incomplete sketchy

hanging-scroll

ink

color-on-paper

coloured pencil

underpainting

china

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

watercolor

"Beauty in Winter," a painting by Gao Qipei, a prominent Chinese painter of the Qing dynasty, showcases a serene winter scene. The painting, housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, depicts two figures wrapped in luxurious garments, sitting in a warmly decorated room. The delicate brushwork and subtle use of color, typical of Gao Qipei's style, evoke a sense of calm and tranquility. The composition, characterized by the use of empty space and refined details, emphasizes the elegance and refinement of the subject matter. The painting reflects a key theme in Chinese art - the appreciation of nature and the pursuit of beauty in everyday life.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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This image is a rare example in which a man and woman are depicted as having almost equal status; rather than appearing to serve her husband, the woman seems to command an equal amount of space and attention. This concept, called ju an qi mei, can be understood as a respectful affection and harmony between spouses. The couple, an official and his wife, are wearing elaborate winter costumes. They are engaged in an intimate conversation in front of a hot stove, on which a pot of wine is warming. The bamboo branches and plum blossoms in the vase reinforce the winter setting: plum trees bloom in winter and bamboo is an evergreen. These plants, able to withstand the harsh winter season, are symbolic of the couple’s moral strength. Gao Qipei was known for his “finger paintings”; the artist painted his works, including this one, with his fingernail rather than a brush.