Fishing Junk
1810
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1810
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Fishing Junk is a 1810 paint by Unknown, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a small fishing boat on the water. It's one of many similar paintings made to sell to travelers. These paintings were often made quickly and in large numbers, which is why they're not very detailed. The artist used simple techniques to create this scene, similar to those used in chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts of light and dark to create a sense of volume.
This rectangular painting depicts a fishing junk on the Pearl River, showing two small boats with figures engaged in net-spreading activities. The left boat has a curved panel covering part of it, while the right boat is flat and features three figures, one holding an umbrella. Part of a set of 50 images, it was produced in large quantities as souvenirs. Lord George Macartney’s description of the Canton River’s crowded boat traffic aligns with the scene depicted.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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