Album of Famous Works from Song and Yuan (Gu Embroidery) - Hyacinth Bean and Dragonfly
At first glance, you might mistake this for a delicate ink painting, but it is actually a stunning example of 'Gu Embroidery' from the Ming Dynasty. Artist Han Ximeng, known as a 'needle painter,' used silk threads to recreate the look of Song and Yuan dynasty masterpieces with incredible precision. On the right, two dragonflies hover gracefully over a hyacinth bean plant, their wings rendered with such fine detail they look translucent. The left page features elegant calligraphy that complements the scene, showcasing how this textile art form rivaled traditional painting in sophistication.
- Technique
- Embroidery (Gu Xiu)
- Material
- Silk