Artwork Page for Double Happiness Character

Details / Information for Double Happiness Character

Double Happiness Character

雙喜字

1736–95

China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong reign

(1736–95)
Medium
Polychrome woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Measurements
93.7 x 54 cm (36 7/8 x 21 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2025.35
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

Woodblock printing in color reached a height in China in the 1600s to 1700s. The prints were executed by means of sets of separate blocks, each carved to print a different color.

Description

In the 1600s, printing flourished in such Jiangnan cities as Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Huizhou, evolving from privately enjoyed illustrated books printed in color to more commercialized single-sheet color prints that were hung on walls and became part of the rich urban visual culture.
A woodblock print on textured cream paper features a large, vertical Chinese character for Double Happiness. Within its black-outlined strokes, various scenes of light-skinned figures unfold in muted orange, green, and gold. A central bearded man anchors the composition. Above and to the right, a figure holds a calligraphic scroll. Below, children play in open-air sections. Small paper losses punctuate the surface, revealing figures against dark, patterned backgrounds.

Double Happiness Character

1736–95

China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong reign (1736–95)

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