The Nine Friends of Suzhou: A Study of Traditional Chinese Fan Painting from the Qing Dynasty in the Groke Mickey Collection at Washington and Lee University

Abstract

The Groke Mickey Fan Collection at the Reeves Center of Washington and Lee University represents a variety of styles and trends during the closing years of the Qing Dynasty in China. By choosing to look at this selection of work by the "Nine Friends of Suzhou," the viewer examines a range of techniques, tastes, and themes from a common time and place. The fans reflect culture heavily influenced by a growing commercial market. The tradition of Chinese painting no longer acts as a literati pastime, or as a product of professionals working in a court academy, but the fan paintings show a culture of painting leaning almost exclusively to a commercial market. Even within the context of a commercial market, the fans still apply traditional symbols and themes to address contemporary issues. . . . The interaction between the viewer and the artist or writer in Chinese art stands as a critical feature in the reflection and appreciation of such a piece. The artist or writer is not satisfied by a strictly aesthetic enjoyment. They require the viewer to read each work far beyond its visual surface. By identifying symbols, cultural references, and a personal history, Chinese art and writing takes upon its full and intended meaning. . . . In an educational setting, the fans provide a unique way to approach East Asian Studies. They are not only appreciated for their artistic value; educators and students alike can use them to approach other areas of learning. Historically, the fans reflect the growth in economics and outside sources in China. The fans also contain many Chinese literary themes. Within the collection there are fans depicting the Song Dynasty prose poems by Su Shi, the two "Ode to Red Cliffs," and the eighteenth century Qing Dynasty piece, Dream of the Red Chamber. [132] A viewer can read and appreciate the fans for their cultural references to Daoist and Confucian teachings. [From Conclusion]