Accession Number
1983/1.385

Title
Chinese New Year's Poster

Artist(s)
Artist Unknown

Object Creation Date
circa 1940

Medium & Support
color woodblock print on paper

Dimensions
( )

Credit Line
Transfer from the Asian Art Archives, Department of History of Art

Subject matter
<!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--> This image shows three boys at play in a palace, surrounded by a circular floral border. The boys are dressed in elaborate red robes, signifying that they are upperclass children. The children on the left and right are holding a barrel filled with various toys. In the Ming dynasty, families hoped for noble sons who would excel in their studies and place high in the civil service examination. Garden plants and toys serve as symbolic references to wealth, fertility, and distinguished success in officialdom.

Physical Description
This print features a circular floral border and images of three child figures at play with a large bag of various toys. The children are dressed in elaborate red clothing, and there is a palace in the background. 

Primary Object Classification
Print

Primary Object Type
poster

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
children (people by age group)
palaces
play (recreation)
posters
sons (people)