United by Music

About this work

This painting shows a group of women in a room, all dressed in traditional Chinese clothing. They are sitting on the floor, playing various musical instruments. The women are all wearing loose-fitting robes with sashes tied around their waists. The instruments include a pipa, a guqin, and a sheng. The women are all focused on their music, with some of them looking down at their instruments and others looking up at each other. The room is decorated with traditional Chinese furniture and decorations, including a low table and a screen. The walls are painted a warm, earthy color, and the floor is covered with a blue rug. The overall atmosphere of the painting is one of calmness and serenity, with the women lost in their music. The painting is held at the Art Institute of Chicago.