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How to read Chinese paintings
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How to read Chinese paintings

by Maxwell K. Hearn

This volume analyses thirty-six paintings and calligraphies from the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Spanning the eighth to the seventeenth century, it explores style, technique, and symbolism to elucidate the major themes of Chinese painting.

Accession 28677 ISBN 9781588392817 Publisher Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale University Press
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Curated Derived
Art Artists Creativity History Painting Writing
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2026-06-05 14:12
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Details

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dimensions
none captured
spine_text
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Metadata

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LOCATION HISTORY
G:N1:17 5 Current vertical
2 days, 23 hours ago
Book Location
Updated 23 hours, 19 minutes ago
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Last synced 2026-06-01 15:30 (4 days, 22 hours ago)

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Descriptive

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2008
object_type
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object_status
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brief_description
The Chinese way of appreciating a painting is often expressed by the words du hua, "to read a painting." How does one do that? Because art is a visual language, words alone cannot adequately convey its expressive dimension. How to Read Chinese Paintings seeks to visually analyze thirty-six paintings and calligraphies from the encyclopedic collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Style, technique, symbolism, past traditions, historical events, and the artist's personal circumstances all come into play. -- publisher

Subjects & people

authors→ author (initial fill only)
Maxwell K. Hearn
tags→ tags
Arts, Art, Chinese, Art -- Philosophy, Rhetoric, Authorship, Art criticism, Criticism, Art appreciation
subject_people
Metropolitan Museum of Art
subject_objects
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