Artwork Page for A Newly Cut Print: Scenes from the First Part of Outlaws of the Marsh

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A Newly Cut Print: Scenes from the First Part of Outlaws of the Marsh

新刻前水滸

1796–1820

China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Jiaqing period

(1796–1820)
Medium
Polychrome woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Measurements
Print only: 33.3 x 46.9 cm (13 1/8 x 18 7/16 in.); Overall: 50 x 80 cm (19 11/16 x 31 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2025.73
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 horizontally oriented woodblock print depicts narrative scenes in a grid framed by a patterned border. The large central panel shows a battle with figures on horseback and foot. Surrounding rectangles feature domestic encounters, combat, and a boat. Figures in vibrant red, blue, and green robes are identified by black Chinese characters. The composition utilizes bold outlines and a primary color palette to portray various light-skinned characters and actions.

A Newly Cut Print: Scenes from the First Part of Outlaws of the Marsh

1796–1820

China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Jiaqing period (1796–1820)

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