Palace Ladies Tuning the Lute, 12th century. Zhou Fang. Handscroll, ink and color on silk. Purchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust.
Zhou Fang’s depiction of court ladies provided the archetype of beautiful, fashionable women in shinühua (painting of gentlewomen). This painting is a copy of his original made during the Tang dynasty (680–960 C.E.), which depicts several curvy court ladies—an ideal type of beauty during his time. Framed by two maidens, the three women model elaborate hairstyles and dresses while playing instruments or sipping tea. The sparse background inadvertently accentuates the dullness of court life, as if the women are patiently waiting for their lovers.
