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Fleeting Years

Wu Jide Chinese

Not on view

This print is the first in a series of four illustrating daily life in the canal cities of Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces. River dwelling, a traditional subject, is here interpreted with contemporary people and buildings. Inserted in a white patch are female weavers at work, a theme copied from Ming (1368–1644) and Qing dynasty (1644–1911) prints illustrating “women’s ten chores.”

White patches are used to simulate the effect of printing with worn-out blocks, as the carved surface suffers losses through time.

Fleeting Years, Wu Jide (Chinese, born 1942), Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, China

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