Orchids -- Illustration from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting (Shizhuzhai shuhua pu) by Hu Zhengyan

Orchids -- Illustration from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting (Shizhuzhai shuhua pu)

before 1703

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Artwork details

Dimensions
sight: 25 x 28.7 cm (9 13/16 x 11 5/16 in.)
Location
Harvard Art Museums
Copyright
CC0 1.0

About this artwork

Editor: Here we have Hu Zhengyan's "Orchids," an illustration from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual. It feels so delicate and spontaneous. What's your take on this piece? Curator: The Manual was significant because it democratized access to art. Before, color printing was exclusive to religious texts. This manual helped make the art of painting available to a broader audience. Editor: So, it was a form of cultural dissemination? Curator: Exactly. Consider how that impacted the status of artists and the perception of art's role in society at the time. Editor: That's fascinating! I never thought about the printing process as being so impactful. Curator: It shifted artistic power. I find it interesting to consider this work as both art and a tool for art education. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. Thanks!

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