"Visit to the Countryside" Pair of Vintage Relief Lacquer Panels

The Chinese were first introduced to European art techniques during the beginning of the Qing dynasty in the 17th century. Intrigued by the Western conventions of linear perspective and modeling with lights and darks, Chinese adapted these techniques in a style that became quite popular in court circles. This exceptional pair of carved decorative panels from 1900 uses the motif of a mountainous landscape, as well as the relief carving of trees in the foreground, to create the illusion of spatial depth. Bridges dramatically recede into the scene as do the scale of the people traversing the path and the diminished size of the buildings in the background. The panels’ dark lacquer finish lends a moody feel to the scene, enhancing the artist’s mastery of light and dark tones to create forms.