College of East Asian Studies

Acrobats in a Park, South China nineteenth century, gouache and watercolor on pith paper

These exquisite paintings catch China as Europeans idealized it in the late nineteenth century: elegant home life, Qing imperial troops performing martial arts in their colorful uniforms, acrobats and gem-like paintings of fish, animals and birds. The delicacy and brilliance of the paintings is stunning, like a perfect dream of a far-off Cathay.