宋元名跡冊(顧繍)・鶉鳥図
At first glance, this looks like a delicate painting of a plump quail foraging near some red berries, but it’s actually a masterpiece of needlework! Created by Han Ximeng, a legendary figure of the late Ming Dynasty, this piece is a prime example of 'Gu Embroidery,' a style so refined it was often called 'painting with a needle.' Han famously copied famous Song and Yuan dynasty paintings using silk threads, achieving a level of detail—like the individual feathers on the bird—that rivals the best brushwork. The calligraphy on the left balances the composition, making this album leaf a perfect blend of poetry and visual art.
- Technique
- Gu Embroidery (silk embroidery imitating painting)
- Material
- Silk thread on silk fabric
Location: The Palace Museum, Beijing