Artwork
清 佚名 傳勾龍爽 番酋四歡八樂圖 冊頁|Tartar Officer with Blonde Lady

清 佚名 傳勾龍爽 番酋四歡八樂圖 冊頁|Tartar Officer with Blonde Lady is a paint painting. It dates from 1849 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The artwork, titled "Tartar Officer with Blonde Lady," is part of an album of eight leaves.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting, dated 1849 and executed in color on silk as part of an eight-leaf album, portrays a Tartar officer together with a blonde woman and a dog.
The painting, dated 1849 and executed in color on silk as part of an eight-leaf album, portrays a Tartar officer together with a blonde woman and a dog. The trio functions as a portrait that combines a male figure, a female figure, and an animal, a composition that Qing artists used to represent foreign peoples and diplomatic encounters. The presence of a European-appearing woman alongside a Chinese-styled officer suggests an interest in intercultural contact during the late Qing period.
As a work in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection, the piece exemplifies how Qing court painters incorporated exotic subjects into traditional portrait formats.
Technique & Style
The work is an album‑leaf painting produced in 1849 in China, executed in color on silk as part of a set of eight leaves. The silk support gives the piece a delicate handling characteristic of Qing‑era court albums, and the polychrome application creates a vivid surface. The composition shows a Tartar officer alongside a blonde lady, accompanied by a dog, a man and a woman, reflecting a narrative scene typical of portraiture in this genre.
Formal qualities include fine brushwork, rich tonal contrast, and a balanced arrangement of figures that emphasizes clarity of line and color. The condition of the leaf is not documented, but its material nature suggests susceptibility to tension and requires careful conservation.
History & Provenance
Created in China in 1849, this work comprises eight album leaves executed in color on silk. While the piece is historically associated with the artist Gou Longshuang, the specific creator remains unknown. The painting depicts a man, a woman, and a dog.
The work currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which serves as its known location and holder. No further details regarding its commission, intermediate ownership history, or specific circumstances of creation are provided in the available records.
The painting is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work is cataloged as an album consisting of eight leaves, with color on silk, and is classified under paintings. The provided sources do not contain specific inventory or accession numbers, nor do they document any exhibition history for the piece.
Overview
The artwork, titled "Tartar Officer with Blonde Lady," is part of an album of eight leaves. Created during the Qing dynasty by an anonymous artist, though attributed to Gou Longshuang, this painting is executed with color on silk. It presents a scene that reflects cultural exchange through its blend of artistic conventions.
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