Wise Men and Children 19th century

This hanging scroll, called Wise Men and Children, was made in China by an anonymous artist using ink and color on silk. The material itself, silk, has a great deal to tell us. The way its surface readily accepts ink, allowing for the delicate rendering of line, is part of what makes the composition so dynamic. But it's not only the smooth texture of silk which is of interest. The economic implications of this material, and its social significance, are also of great importance. Silk was a luxury good, carefully produced, and often associated with trade. So, the fact that it was chosen for this image is meaningful. This use of rich materials and skilled, labor-intensive painting techniques suggests that "Wise Men and Children" was intended for an elite audience. It blurs any supposed division between "fine art" and "craft," demonstrating how aesthetic traditions are always intertwined with the social and material conditions of their making.