Illustration to Painted Skin (Huapi)
Artist
Pu Xinyu
(Manchu, 1896 - 1963)
Date20th century
MediumInk and color on paper
DimensionsImage: 12 1/2 × 7 3/4 inches (31.75 × 19.69 cm)
Sheet: 19 1/4 × 11 3/4 inches (48.9 × 29.85 cm)
Mat: 19 1/2 × 14 5/8 inches (49.53 × 37.15 cm)
Sheet: 19 1/4 × 11 3/4 inches (48.9 × 29.85 cm)
Mat: 19 1/2 × 14 5/8 inches (49.53 × 37.15 cm)
Credit LinePurchase: the Asian Art Acquisition Fund in memory of Laurence Sickman
Object number2023.8.1
Signed蒲留僊先生聊齋故事〈畫皮〉。俊忱先生屬，心畬。
Story of Painted Skin from [Strange Tales from a Make-Do Studio] by Pu Liuxian (Pu Songling]. Painted for Mr. Junchen by Xinyu (Puru).
鈐印：溥儒之印 Seal: Puru zhi yin
On View
Not on viewCollections
DescriptionIt depicts a figure from a window gazing down at a demon, who is painting an image of a woman on the table. The depiction reflects the story of “Painted skin” (Huapi) from the novel, “Strange Tales from a Make-Do Studio” (Liaozhai zhiyi) by Pu Songling (1640-1715). The painting is mounted with a silk brocade border.Gallery LabelPainted Skin (Huapi) is a short story compiled in Strange
Tales from a Make Do Studio (Liaozhai zhiyi) by Pu Songling
(1640–1715). In the story, a young man has a chance encounter with a beautiful
woman. He quickly develops a relationship with the woman, ignoring his friends’
warnings that she may be harmful. One night, he passes by the woman’s room to longingly
peer at her through the window. He instead sees that his love is a demon who is
painting the woman’s image on a skin canvas laid on top of the table.
Bonhams Hong Kong, Admiralty. 9 December 2021, 11:00 HKT. Auction, Lot 628
Alan Kennedy, 2021-2023
Purchased from Alan Kennedy by the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, in 2023
溥心畬画小妖，好可爱！ (搜狐) 5/23/2020. Online publication: The Lovely monsters by Pu
Xinyu (sohu.com)
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