Artwork Page for Spring Swallows Bring Good Tidings

Details / Information for Spring Swallows Bring Good Tidings

Spring Swallows Bring Good Tidings

春燕報喜圖

1736–95

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

(1736–95)
Medium
Polychrome woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Measurements
Print only: 73.1 x 47.5 cm (28 3/4 x 18 11/16 in.); Overall: 91.6 x 53 cm (36 1/16 x 20 7/8 in.)
Credit Line
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2025.37
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 vertically oriented woodblock print in shades of tan, blue, and red depicts a woman in a blue robe holding an infant on the left, facing right. Below them, a child in a small boat holds a red lotus flower. Willow branches hang from the top left over two flying swallows. The print is framed by a cracked, dark brown border. All figures have light skin tones.

Spring Swallows Bring Good Tidings

1736–95

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

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork