New Year's Day in a Village at Stone Lake China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

New Year's Day in a Village at Stone Lake

石湖村舍

1609

Li Shida 李士達

(Chinese, c. 1549–c. 1621)

China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

Album leaf; ink and light color on paper

Overall: 33.3 x 53 cm (13 1/8 x 20 7/8 in.)

Andrew R. and Martha Holden Jennings Fund 1980.178

Location: not on view

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Description

This rural scene presents typical activities of a New Year’s Day in which relatives and friends approach the house to convey their good wishes to the elders. Two boys in the courtyard light fire crackers, and servants in front of the main gate beat the gong to announce the guests. Inside the house, the hosts entertain their guests by offering hot wine and by writing New Year couplets to be hung on the gates welcoming the New Year. White cherry blossoms announce the spring. The water village at Stone Lake is characteristic of the Jiangnan region in southeast China. Born in Suzhou, the artist Li Shida may have even had his hometown in mind when he produced this painting.