About this artwork
Woodblock printing on paper emerged in China around the seventh century as a way to preserve and copy Buddhist texts. Since that time, printmakers in East Asia have refined the technique by experimenting with color, size, and ways of bringing the ink and paper into contact with the block.
Today, Chinese artists employ this time-honored medium to depict everything from landscapes to abstract forms. They also use different types of pigments to create varying degrees of opacity. This work comes from a portfolio that was commissioned in 1999 by the Muban Foundation in London to recognize the achievements of Chinese printmakers. This work demonstrates the woodblock print’s potential to connect the visual worlds of traditional and contemporary China.
-
Status
- Currently Off View
-
Department
- Arts of Asia
-
Artist
- Wang Bing
-
Title
- The Wenbu People of Tibet (西藏文部人)
-
Place
- China (Artist's nationality:)
-
Date
- Made 1998
-
Medium
- Woodcut print; oil-based ink on paper
-
Dimensions
- 34.9 × 43.4 cm (13 3/4 × 17 1/8 in.)
-
Credit Line
- Margaret Gentles Fund
-
Reference Number
- 2004.193
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.