Early 20th Century Chinese Gouache on Pith Paper - The Musician's Procession

Description

A vibrant gouache painting showing a procession of musicians and dancers on pith paper. Pith presumably came into use for painting to satisfy the increasing demand for small, inexpensive and easily transported souvenirs, following the massive growth in the China Trade in the first quarter of the nineteenth century. Paintings in oils, on board and canvas were costly and difficult to carry home. Earlier and more prestigious export water-colours had often been on a larger scale and painted on fine Chinese paper or on paper imported from Europe. They may have suited the sea-captains and informed the aristocracy but for the hoi polloi they were too expensive. The albums of pith paintings (and later the little glass-fronted boxes) were inexpensive, light, easy to pack and gave the pictures some protection on the long voyage home. Because many were sold in albums and hence protected from the light, they retain their bright colours to this day. Because of the nature of pith and its cellular structure, the gouache used by the Chinese sat on the surface and produced a bright and even sparkling effect. Very fine detail could be achieved but pith did not lend itself to the flat wash of colour favoured for European watercolours. Presented in a card mount. Unsigned.

Condition

There are seven vertical tears to the fragile pith paper, the largest measuring (3.5cm) the smallest (0.5cm). There is also some discolouration to the page, most notably to the mount.

Size

19 x 30.3cm (7.5" x 11.9")
Sheet: 26 x 38.9cm (10.2" x 15.3")
Framed Size: 30.5 x 42cm (12" x 16.5")