清 佚名 蜂舞花叢 册頁|Flowers and Bees

Art Historical Context

This delicate album leaf, titled *Flowers and Bees*蜂舞花叢), hails from 18th-century China during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Originally painted on a fan and later mounted as an album page, it exemplifies the refined portability of Chinese fan art, which served both practical cooling purposes and as intimate displays of artistry among the elite. Crafted with ink and vibrant colors on silk—a luxurious medium prized for its smooth absorbency and luminous sheen—the work measures a compact 9½ x 10 inches, perfect for private contemplation in scholarly albums. The scene captures bees dancing amid b...