Elegant Breeze of Eternity - The Exhibition of Fine Fan Paintings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties in the Jiangnan Region

Fan paintings, which combine practicality and craftsmanship, are one of the most widely spread traditional Chinese art forms. Ancient literati referred to them as 'elegant objects to carry in one's sleeve'. The earliest fan paintings can be traced back to the Three Kingdoms period. Under the patronage of emperors during the Song dynasty, fan paintings reached their zenith. The great literary figure of the Northern Song dynasty, Su Dongpo, while serving as a judge in Hangzhou, helped a fan maker who couldn't sell his fans due to continuous rainy weather and was sued for his debts. Su Dongpo inscribed and painted on the fans, and within minutes, they were sold out at the high price of a thousand coins each, solving the fan maker's debt problem. Those who heard the news and rushed over were frustrated for not being able to buy a fan inscribed by Su Dongpo. After the Ming dynasty, folding fan paintings gradually became dominant. Landscapes, figures, flowers, and birds - everything was available. It was somewhat embarrassing for literati and poets to go out without a folding fan in hand. This trend continued into the Qing dynasty, with the promotion of various painting schools, the content became richer and the forms more diverse. Influenced by the revival of epigraphy, fans with inscriptions in bronze script and seal script also became fashionable. Today, fan paintings have gradually faded from people's view. To let more people understand the long history and artistic charm of fan culture, the Dongyang City Museum temporary exhibition hall has launched the 'Elegant Breeze of Eternity - The Exhibition of Fine Fan Paintings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties in the Jiangnan Region'. The exhibition is divided into four sections: Emotions in Landscapes, Delight in Flowers and Birds, Casualness in Figures, and Aspirations in Poetry and Prose. The exhibits span the Ming and Qing dynasties, mainly from the Qing dynasty, including works by renowned artists such as Lu Zhi and Zhang Hong. The works are fresh and elegant, and as one gazes into the small square inches of the paintings, it is like wandering through a dreamy Jiangnan. 🕙 Exhibition Time: April 20, 2024 - June 20, 2024 📍 Exhibition Location: Temporary Exhibition Hall of Dongyang City Museum Ticket Price: Free