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Gardens, Art, and Commerce in Chinese Woodblock Prints

Exhibitions

Pomegranate and Magnolia with Bird, Qing dynasty, ca. 1700–1750. Artist: Ding Liangxian. Publisher: Jinchang district, Suzhou, Jiangsu province. Woodblock print with embossing, ink and colors on paper (multi-block technique with hand-coloring), 11 7/8 × 14 3/4 in. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Photograph © 2016 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Persimmon and tangerines, with calligraphy in running cursive script by Xing Yi, Fruit 9, Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting, Ming dynasty, Chongzhen period to early Qing dynasty, ca. 1633–1703. Compiled and edited by Hu Zhengyan (1584/5–1673/4). Woodblock-printed book mounted as album leaves, ink and colors on paper, 9 7/8 × 11 1/4 in., each sheet. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Illustration from Rare Edition of the Northern Story of the Western Chamber, Corrected by Zhang Shenzhi, Ming dynasty, 1639. Compiler and editor: Zhang Daojun (d. 1642). Artist: Chen Hongshou (1599–1652). Carver: Xiang Nanzhou (act. mid-17th century). Woodblock-printed book, ink on paper, 11 × 6 3/4 in., each page. National Library of China.
Illustration from Story of the Peony Pavilion and the Return of the Soul, Ming dynasty, 1617. Carvers: Huang Dexiu (1580–1652), Huang Yikai (1580–1622), Huang Yifeng (b. 1583), and Huang Yibin (b. 1581). Woodblock-printed book, ink on paper, Vol. I, 10 3/4 × 6 1/2 in.; Vol. II, 10 1/2 × 6 1/2 in. each page. Spencer Collection, The New York Public Library.
“Morning Mist by the Western Ridge,” Thirty-Six Imperial Views of the Mountain Estate for Escaping the Heat, Qing dynasty, 1714. Artist and engraver: Matteo Ripa, also known as Ma Guoxian (1682–1746), copied from design by Shen Yu (1649–after 1728). Publisher: Imperial imprint, Beijing. Book of copperplate engravings, ink on paper, 12 1/2 × 73/8 in., each page. The Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Mass. © 2015 Peabody Essex Museum. Photograph by Walter Silver.
Scenes from Story of the Western Chamber: The Complete Version, Qing dynasty, 1747. Publisher: Peach Blossom Cove, Suzhou, Jiangsu province. Hand-colored woodblock print mounted as hanging scroll, ink on paper, 38 1/4 × 19 7/8 in. Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum. Photo: Imaging Department © President and Fellows of Harvard College.
Detail from Illustrations of the Garden Scenery of the Hall of Encircling Jade, Ming dynasty, ca. 1602–5. Artist: Qian Gong (ca. 1573–1620). Carver: Huang Yingzu (b. 1563). Publisher: Wang Tingna (ca. 1569–after 1628), Wang Family Hall of Encircling Jade, Huizhou. Photolithographic reproduction of woodblock-printed handscroll, 1981, made from metal plates created in the 1960s, Beijing, 13 7/8 × 10 1/2 in. Collection of Richard Strassberg.
Two rocks, with calligraphy in seal script by He Guangxiu, Rock 7, Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting, Ming dynasty, Chongzhen period to early Qing dynasty, ca. 1633–1703. Compiled and edited by Hu Zhengyan (1584/5–1673/4). Woodblock-printed book mounted as album leaves, ink and colors on paper, 9 7/8 × 11 1/4 in., each sheet. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
“In the Manner of Wen Zhengming’s Orchids in Rain” (left) and “In the Manner of Shen Zhou’s Orchids in Clear Weather” (right), Orchid 8 and 7, Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting, Ming dynasty, Chongzhen period to early Qing dynasty, ca. 1633–1703. Compiled and edited by Hu Zhengyan (1584/5–1673/4). Woodblock-printed book mounted as album leaves, ink and colors on paper, 9 7/8 × 11 1/4 in., each sheet. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Illustrations of the Grand Birthday Celebration of the Kangxi Emperor, Qing dynasty, 1715–17. Artists: Wang Yuanqi (1642–1715), Leng Mei (act. 1677–1742), and others. Publisher: Imperial Household, Beijing. Woodblock-printed book mounted as handscroll, ink on paper, 13 1/8 × 984 in. Shanghai Museum.
Pomegranate and Magnolia with Bird, Qing dynasty, ca. 1700–1750. Artist: Ding Liangxian. Publisher: Jinchang district, Suzhou, Jiangsu province. Woodblock print with embossing, ink and colors on paper (multi-block technique with hand-coloring), 11 7/8 × 14 3/4 in. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Photograph © 2016 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Persimmon and tangerines, with calligraphy in running cursive script by Xing Yi, Fruit 9, Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting, Ming dynasty, Chongzhen period to early Qing dynasty, ca. 1633–1703. Compiled and edited by Hu Zhengyan (1584/5–1673/4). Woodblock-printed book mounted as album leaves, ink and colors on paper, 9 7/8 × 11 1/4 in., each sheet. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Illustration from Rare Edition of the Northern Story of the Western Chamber, Corrected by Zhang Shenzhi, Ming dynasty, 1639. Compiler and editor: Zhang Daojun (d. 1642). Artist: Chen Hongshou (1599–1652). Carver: Xiang Nanzhou (act. mid-17th century). Woodblock-printed book, ink on paper, 11 × 6 3/4 in., each page. National Library of China.
Illustration from Story of the Peony Pavilion and the Return of the Soul, Ming dynasty, 1617. Carvers: Huang Dexiu (1580–1652), Huang Yikai (1580–1622), Huang Yifeng (b. 1583), and Huang Yibin (b. 1581). Woodblock-printed book, ink on paper, Vol. I, 10 3/4 × 6 1/2 in.; Vol. II, 10 1/2 × 6 1/2 in. each page. Spencer Collection, The New York Public Library.
“Morning Mist by the Western Ridge,” Thirty-Six Imperial Views of the Mountain Estate for Escaping the Heat, Qing dynasty, 1714. Artist and engraver: Matteo Ripa, also known as Ma Guoxian (1682–1746), copied from design by Shen Yu (1649–after 1728). Publisher: Imperial imprint, Beijing. Book of copperplate engravings, ink on paper, 12 1/2 × 73/8 in., each page. The Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Mass. © 2015 Peabody Essex Museum. Photograph by Walter Silver.
Scenes from Story of the Western Chamber: The Complete Version, Qing dynasty, 1747. Publisher: Peach Blossom Cove, Suzhou, Jiangsu province. Hand-colored woodblock print mounted as hanging scroll, ink on paper, 38 1/4 × 19 7/8 in. Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum. Photo: Imaging Department © President and Fellows of Harvard College.
Detail from Illustrations of the Garden Scenery of the Hall of Encircling Jade, Ming dynasty, ca. 1602–5. Artist: Qian Gong (ca. 1573–1620). Carver: Huang Yingzu (b. 1563). Publisher: Wang Tingna (ca. 1569–after 1628), Wang Family Hall of Encircling Jade, Huizhou. Photolithographic reproduction of woodblock-printed handscroll, 1981, made from metal plates created in the 1960s, Beijing, 13 7/8 × 10 1/2 in. Collection of Richard Strassberg.
Two rocks, with calligraphy in seal script by He Guangxiu, Rock 7, Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting, Ming dynasty, Chongzhen period to early Qing dynasty, ca. 1633–1703. Compiled and edited by Hu Zhengyan (1584/5–1673/4). Woodblock-printed book mounted as album leaves, ink and colors on paper, 9 7/8 × 11 1/4 in., each sheet. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
“In the Manner of Wen Zhengming’s Orchids in Rain” (left) and “In the Manner of Shen Zhou’s Orchids in Clear Weather” (right), Orchid 8 and 7, Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting, Ming dynasty, Chongzhen period to early Qing dynasty, ca. 1633–1703. Compiled and edited by Hu Zhengyan (1584/5–1673/4). Woodblock-printed book mounted as album leaves, ink and colors on paper, 9 7/8 × 11 1/4 in., each sheet. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Illustrations of the Grand Birthday Celebration of the Kangxi Emperor, Qing dynasty, 1715–17. Artists: Wang Yuanqi (1642–1715), Leng Mei (act. 1677–1742), and others. Publisher: Imperial Household, Beijing. Woodblock-printed book mounted as handscroll, ink on paper, 13 1/8 × 984 in. Shanghai Museum.

Pomegranate and Magnolia with Bird, Qing dynasty, ca. 1700–1750. Artist: Ding Liangxian. Publisher: Jinchang district, Suzhou, Jiangsu province. Woodblock print with embossing, ink and colors on paper (multi-block technique with hand-coloring), 11 7/8 × 14 3/4 in. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Photograph © 2016 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Persimmon and tangerines, with calligraphy in running cursive script by Xing Yi, Fruit 9, Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting, Ming dynasty, Chongzhen period to early Qing dynasty, ca. 1633–1703. Compiled and edited by Hu Zhengyan (1584/5–1673/4). Woodblock-printed book mounted as album leaves, ink and colors on paper, 9 7/8 × 11 1/4 in., each sheet. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.

Illustration from Rare Edition of the Northern Story of the Western Chamber, Corrected by Zhang Shenzhi, Ming dynasty, 1639. Compiler and editor: Zhang Daojun (d. 1642). Artist: Chen Hongshou (1599–1652). Carver: Xiang Nanzhou (act. mid-17th century). Woodblock-printed book, ink on paper, 11 × 6 3/4 in., each page. National Library of China.

Illustration from Story of the Peony Pavilion and the Return of the Soul, Ming dynasty, 1617. Carvers: Huang Dexiu (1580–1652), Huang Yikai (1580–1622), Huang Yifeng (b. 1583), and Huang Yibin (b. 1581). Woodblock-printed book, ink on paper, Vol. I, 10 3/4 × 6 1/2 in.; Vol. II, 10 1/2 × 6 1/2 in. each page. Spencer Collection, The New York Public Library.

"Morning Mist by the Western Ridge," Thirty-Six Imperial Views of the Mountain Estate for Escaping the Heat, Qing dynasty, 1714. Artist and engraver: Matteo Ripa, also known as Ma Guoxian (1682–1746), copied from design by Shen Yu (1649–after 1728). Publisher: Imperial imprint, Beijing. Book of copperplate engravings, ink on paper, 12 1/2 × 73/8 in., each page. The Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Mass. © 2015 Peabody Essex Museum. Photograph by Walter Silver.

Scenes from Story of the Western Chamber: The Complete Version, Qing dynasty, 1747. Publisher: Peach Blossom Cove, Suzhou, Jiangsu province. Hand-colored woodblock print mounted as hanging scroll, ink on paper, 38 1/4 × 19 7/8 in. Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum. Photo: Imaging Department © President and Fellows of Harvard College.

Detail from Illustrations of the Garden Scenery of the Hall of Encircling Jade, Ming dynasty, ca. 1602–5. Artist: Qian Gong (ca. 1573–1620). Carver: Huang Yingzu (b. 1563). Publisher: Wang Tingna (ca. 1569–after 1628), Wang Family Hall of Encircling Jade, Huizhou. Photolithographic reproduction of woodblock-printed handscroll, 1981, made from metal plates created in the 1960s, Beijing, 13 7/8 × 10 1/2 in. Collection of Richard Strassberg.

Two rocks, with calligraphy in seal script by He Guangxiu, Rock 7, Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting, Ming dynasty, Chongzhen period to early Qing dynasty, ca. 1633–1703. Compiled and edited by Hu Zhengyan (1584/5–1673/4). Woodblock-printed book mounted as album leaves, ink and colors on paper, 9 7/8 × 11 1/4 in., each sheet. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.

"In the Manner of Wen Zhengming's Orchids in Rain" (left) and "In the Manner of Shen Zhou's Orchids in Clear Weather" (right), Orchid 8 and 7, Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting, Ming dynasty, Chongzhen period to early Qing dynasty, ca. 1633–1703. Compiled and edited by Hu Zhengyan (1584/5–1673/4). Woodblock-printed book mounted as album leaves, ink and colors on paper, 9 7/8 × 11 1/4 in., each sheet. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.

Illustrations of the Grand Birthday Celebration of the Kangxi Emperor, Qing dynasty, 1715–17. Artists: Wang Yuanqi (1642–1715), Leng Mei (act. 1677–1742), and others. Publisher: Imperial Household, Beijing. Woodblock-printed book mounted as handscroll, ink on paper, 13 1/8 × 984 in. Shanghai Museum.

Chinese woodblock print

Sept. 17, 2016–Jan. 9, 2017

Boone Gallery