Chinese Art & Culture
Ancient Chinese Art
Created between 1500 BCE when China
began to be ruled by royal families called
Dynasties and 1279CE when the Mongols
conquered China (ie 3000 years of art)
 Chinese art developed differently in
different parts of the country.
 Artists during this period are anonymous.
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Chinese Art & Religion
Chinese art was inspired by
Buddism, Daoism & the teachings
of Confucious
Buddhas &
Bodhisattvas
Sanxingdui 1200 BCE
Most early art which has
survived consists of Bronze
pieces.
 This Bronze figure is almost 6 ‘
(1.8 m high) without a base,
with the base it is over 9’ ( 2.7
m) high
 First early bronze which shows
the human figure.
 Found in Central China
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Artwork Showing
Trade
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Elephants lived in China during
1200BCE therefore ivory was also a
local material. However, turquoise was
a trade item.
This beaker, ivory & inlaid with
turquoise illustrates China’s trade
.
Evolution
of Ceramics
Ancestor Worship – Tomb Soldiers
Patronage & Court Art
Due to the high cost of materials, artists
(including painters, weavers, bronze workers
and carvers) looked for a patron first before
they created a work of art
 Emperors set up workshops for weavers, bronze
makers and carvers and regularly ordered
paintings from preferred artists.
 From the Tang dynasty, a style of court art
developed. Many of the nobles at court including
the emperors themselves, were artists.
 Painting on silk scrolls & calligraphy became
popular.

Chinese
Painting
Calligraphy &
Poetry
Fan K’uan vs George Seurat
Fan K’uan
Principles of Chinese art
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Conventions of Space ie divided into 3 sections or planes eg in foreground is carefully
rendered rock formation close to picture plane – separates and defines this plane.
Middle ground is rocky hills & trees with roadway. Three waterfalls are woven into
the geological structures. Travelers and pack animals located on road to right and a
small pavilion or temple located among the trees. The background is composed of a
backdrop of flattened, silhouetted mountains with defined outlines and brush-covered
tops. The mountains are split by a deep cleft and on the right a thin cataract spills
down the face of the rock.
Foreground Rock seen from the side. Are we looking down from a birds’ eye view or
is the rock at the same level as the road ie a boulder at our feet as we the viewer
stand on a scene with this view.
Middle ground – appears to be in profile as we see all of the trunk and upper limbs
defined but the upper tree in the middle ground appears to be tilted backward.
Mountain not shown as if we are looking up ie no diminution of size or
foreshortening.
If we accept the eye level of pines to the left of the temple, we are seeing too much
of the trees and shrubs which cover the mountain peaks.
Finally the tilting of the small plateaus at the top of the mountains towards the
viewer demonstrate K’ai ho ( coherence)
Georges Seurat
Comparison West vs East
How does Seurat’s work compare?
 Refer to his use …
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1. Composition
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2. Line
3. Colour