Chinese New Year's Poster

Accession Number
1983/1.387

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
This image shows two 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 child on the right is holding a large bag filled with various toys. Four Chinese characters on top of the image translate to "good luck." 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 two 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
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

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

& Author Notes

Web Use Permitted