Album of Famous Works from Song and Yuan (Gu Embroidery) - Mending the Imperial Robe
You might mistake this delicate scene for a painting, but it is actually a masterpiece of 'Gu Embroidery' by Han Ximeng from the late Ming Dynasty. She used silk threads to mimic the brushstrokes of Song and Yuan masters, depicting a graceful woman mending a royal robe—a classic symbol of a virtuous wife correcting her husband's faults. The calligraphy on the left adds a poetic layer, likely penned by the famous artist Dong Qichang, who was a huge fan of her work and helped elevate embroidery from mere craft to high art.
- Technique
- Gu Embroidery (silk embroidery imitating painting)
- Material
- Silk thread on silk fabric
Location: Shanghai Museum