Figures from history

In an increasing middle-class community, the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties saw rising demand for figure paintings that depicted family life and conveyed cultural values and moral beliefs. Such paintings at the time were roughly categorized into three themes: paying tribute to ancestors, hailing harmony among family members and commemorating social activities, and preserving core values embodied in social customs. Family Harmony, an exhibition on now at the Long Museum in Shanghai, examines the roles of Ming and Qing figure paintings in carrying forward values and cultural traditions to future generations. Paintings shown at the exhibition, which runs until March 7, are from the collections of the Hunan Provincial Museum in Changsha and Changsha Grand View Culture Gallery.

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