Maidservant under a Tree

Curious about how Tang Dynasty tomb murals reflect shifting artistic trends?

In this vibrant era, political themes gave way to depictions of palace women. By the mid-8th century, figures like Yang Guifei, the beloved consort of Emperor Xuanzong, captivated artists and audiences alike. Her plump, full-figured beauty became a popular motif, influencing depictions of women not just in China but as far afield as Japan and Central Asia. These captivating images offer a window into the cultural exchange and artistic evolution of the time.

Tang Dynasty (618-907) Silk painting. 136cm*56cm. Collection of the Shōsōin, Japan.

Tang Dynasty (618-907), Colored, silk painting. Unearthed in tomb No.187 of Astana Cemetry, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Collection of the Xinjiang Museum.

This piece is compiled from the Chinese edition of Three Thousand Years of Chinese Painting by Foreign Languages Press and Yale University Press, translated by Chen Ying.