Chinese Figures (bodycolour on paper)

drawing, bodycolour on paper (rice), entitled Chinese Figures, by an unknown artist The rich clothing and elaborate hairstyle of the seated woman in this scene show that she is important. Her feet are extremely tiny - a mark of beauty in 19th-century China. She is painting the outside of a bowl, which is supported upside down on a tripod in front of her. The scene shows how much the skill of ceramic decoration was valued in traditional Chinese life. The picture is painted on silk using opaque watercolour to to achieve the bright colour. The artist has used very small brushes to create the detail of the faces.