Fungi and Bats 1898

Curator: This hanging scroll, "Fungi and Bats," is attributed to Empress Dowager Cixi, though the exact date of its creation remains unknown. It’s ink and color on paper, a delicate composition. Editor: The lightness of the palette is striking. The composition feels airy, almost ethereal; but, I can sense that she created it with purpose. Curator: Indeed. Bats, homophonous with "good fortune" in Chinese, coupled with the fungus, a symbol of longevity, reveal a sophisticated understanding of cultural iconography. Editor: And that symbolism is precisely what makes it a political statement. As a female leader, she navigated a landscape fraught with gendered expectations. The strategic use of these symbols reinforces her legitimacy and seeks to secure her legacy within the Qing dynasty. Curator: The Empress Dowager was a keen patron of the arts. This is a window into her complex intersectional identities, and a reminder that art serves as a lens for self-fashioning and the projection of power. Editor: A fascinating piece—both for its artistic merit and the historical context surrounding its creation.