A Comb Seller
1790
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1790
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
A Comb Seller is a 1790 paint by Puqua, a Patna School of Painting work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows an older man carrying a large red box on his back with a strap. He holds a small sign with writing on it and a red tassel at the bottom. His clothes are simple and loose, and he’s barefoot. The sign he carries likely advertises his trade—selling combs. The clean lines and soft colors give the scene a calm, everyday feel. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see this painting in person.
A Comb Seller by Puqua, painted in 1790, is a rectangular artwork depicting a central figure in black attire who carries a red box over one shoulder and holds a tapestry in hand. It is one of a set of 100 paintings illustrating Chinese artisans and tradesmen at work, created to meet European interest in Chinese culture and society. The painting was acquired from Parsons & Sons and entered the collection in 1898 as part of a larger group of trade-related scenes from Canton.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Your cart is empty
Explore artworks →
