Panel (Furnishing Fabric) Possibly 1644 - 1911

This furnishing fabric panel was created by an unknown Manchu artist. While we do not have specific details about the artist's identity, the artwork offers a glimpse into broader social and cultural dynamics. Consider the historical context: as a nomadic group from northeastern China, the Manchus established the Qing Dynasty in the 17th century and ruled until the early 20th century. Their cultural traditions and artistic styles blended with those of the Han Chinese, resulting in works like this panel. The panel reflects an emotional connection to nature, symbolized by the carefully rendered birds, flowers and rock formations. These images, beyond their aesthetic appeal, represent a merging of identities and cultural exchange. The choice of a furnishing fabric is telling, as it invites the natural world into domestic spaces. The panel thus functions as a mediator between the intimate and the expansive, the personal and the political.