Zhang Zeduan, Spring Festival on the River (also called Along the River During Qingming Festival), Northern Song dynasty, Early 12th century
Despite its uncertain attribution to Northern Song Dynasty academy painter Zhang Zeduan and unknown date, this masterful painting has nonetheless become one of the most famous and hotly-debated works in Chinese history. Meant to be viewed by unfurling the lengthy silk handscroll a little at a time, the painting becomes an animated story in which we peer into an idealized city from a birds-eye view. Scroll through the length of the highly-detailed painting from right to left to find a bustling marketplace, sailors, farmers, scholars, monks and people of all classes going about their daily lives. The painting immerses the viewer in an expansive survey of city life from nearly a thousand years ago.
4 panels measuring 144 x 103, depicting a 12th C Artwork in slight relief and gilt highlights.