The album is brightly painted in ink and colour on paper with couples engaged in amorous pursuits. The scenes combine figure painting with detailed depictions of domestic interiors and garden settings, incorporating furniture, ceramics and objects associated with the scholar’s household.
An album of twelve erotic paintings (Qing dynasty, 18th/19th century)
Description
Dimensions:
Each leaf 28.3 × 22.8 cm
Medium: Ink and colour on paper
Provenance:
A private French collection
The album is brightly painted in ink and colour on paper with couples engaged in amorous pursuits. The scenes combine figure painting with detailed depictions of domestic interiors and garden settings, incorporating furniture, ceramics and objects associated with the scholar’s household.
Chinese erotic paintings of this type are known as chungongtu, or ‘pictures of the Palace of Spring’. During the Qing dynasty, they were commonly assembled in concertina albums, often comprising twelve leaves. This format allowed the scenes to be viewed individually, with changes in setting and furnishings providing variety across the sequence.
Additional information
| Period | Qing dynasty, 18th/19th century |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | Each leaf 28.3 × 22.8 cm |
