Album des chefs-d'œuvre des Song et Yuan (Broderie Gu) - Ravaudant la robe impériale

Han Ximeng

Album des chefs-d'œuvre des Song et Yuan (Broderie Gu) - Ravaudant la robe impériale by Han Ximeng

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

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