Silkworm
This tightly drawn depiction of silk moths and of silkworms on mulberry leaves reveals Ju Chao's playful and observant interest in unconventional subjects. He and his cousin were criticized by a contemporary Guangdong critic for choosing to paint such insignificant subjects as flies, fireflies, mosquitoes and ants. Zheng Qi, for instance, wrote:
Certain artists only specialize in these to demonstrate their technical proficiency. How could they have taken such a crooked path; how can we discuss the principles of painting with them?
Artwork Details
- 清 居巢 蠶蛾 扇面
- Title: Silkworm
- Artist: Ju Chao (Chinese, ca. 1823–1889)
- Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
- Date: dated 1859
- Culture: China
- Medium: Folding fan mounted as an album leaf; ink and color on alum paper
- Dimensions: 7 1/4 x 21 in. (18.4 x 53.3 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Gift of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, in memory of La Ferne Hatfield Ellsworth, 1986
- Object Number: 1986.267.41
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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