four ladies seated around a low red table on a red flowered carpet on a stone pathway in a garden, playing a game with cards or tiles; trees with white blossoms behind path at center and in front of path at left; blue rocks, LRC; grey rock, URQ

Court Ladies at Play, 1683

expand_more
Not on Viewexpand_more

Four ladies sit around a low table, playing cards in a garden surrounded by rocks and bamboo, cherry and magnolia trees. The imperial red table covering and the women’s elegant clothing and postures identify them as ladies of the imperial court, just as their bored expressions indicate an obvious lack of interest in the game itself. They are merely passing time as they await an imperial summons. The subject and style are intended to evoke the courtly art of the Tang dynasty (618–906), when court ladies played complex roles in art, literature, and politics. During the Tang dynasty, women had more opportunities for education and the attainment of high-status positions than in previous eras. The women are surrounded by flowers, which are often equated with female beauty in Chinese art and literature.

Details
Title
Court Ladies at Play
Artist Life
active late 17th century
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2012.35
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know

Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.

four ladies seated around a low red table on a red flowered carpet on a stone pathway in a garden, playing a game with cards or tiles; trees with white blossoms behind path at center and in front of path at left; blue rocks, LRC; grey rock, URQ