Autumn Colours in Xiling c. 1675 - 1850

This large screen painting, "Autumn Colours in Xiling", was made anonymously, and it is composed of ink, color and gold on paper. The rich, aged tones come from the materials themselves, each bearing their own qualities. Paper, inherently delicate, here becomes a ground for storytelling. The ink, applied with careful brushstrokes, delineates figures and landscape, while the colors and gold add subtle depth. Look closely, and you’ll see the labor involved. The paper had to be prepared, the gold painstakingly applied, and each stroke of ink and color placed with precision. It would have required immense patience and skill from an accomplished painter. Screens like this were not just decorative, but integral to social life. They divided spaces, provided backdrops for ceremonies, and, as we see here, depicted scenes of leisure and beauty. By considering the time and talent poured into it, alongside its original context, we can understand more about the lives of the people who made and used this screen, and remember that so-called 'fine art' is, at its heart, a form of skilled craft.