Handscroll on "Song of the P'i-p'a"
Wen Cheng-ming (1470-1559)
Ming Dynasty

Calligraphing "Essay on Literature"
Lu Chien-chih (585-638)
Tang Dynasty

Representations of the Literary Mind:
The Theme of Poetry and Literature in Chinese Art
Galleries 210, 214, 302, 303
2001/04/01 - 2001/06/25

Literature and fine art are both the products of human imagination, and their creation elicits similar aesthetic reactions on the part of the artist.  In traditional China, artists often used famous literary works or phrases as the subject for their works, thereby encouraging the viewer to step beyond the outward appearance of the image and appreciate its deeper meaning.  A well know saying among traditional Chinese art critics is that, "In poetry there is painting and in painting there is poetry."

The exhibition not only draws upon the Museum's collection of painting and calligraphy, but also includes carved lacquer, enamelware, and ceramics.