Yuan Dynasty

During the Yuan dynasty, because of social turmoil and ethnic conflicts, many painters escaped to live in the mountains. They began to focus on painting the beauty of the nature that surrounded them, causing a decline in paintings of women.

Painters did not continue the Song Dynasty tradition of positively displaying women of different classes. Instead they drifted away from depicting real life. They sought themes from historical stories as well as literary works. In terms of human modeling, they followed the customs handed down from the Tang Dynasty.

Ming Dynasty

Four Beauties Painting

In the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), there was an enormous development in the artists' portrayal of women. . Women's figures gradually started to have a certain aestheticism and symmetrical stature. Through solemn, simple and beautiful features the artists revealed their elegant manner.

Traditional Chinese paintingentered its mature stage during the Ming Dynasty. Many outstanding painters emerged during this time.

Qing Dynasty

In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), paintings of women occupied an important place in art scene. Its status was above flowerandbird painting,landscape painting and others.

During this period, the depiction of women in art became formulaic, showing women regardless of social status with slim figures, oval faces and cherry lips.

Female femininity and morbid beauty were also depicted by artists in the Qing Dynasty.

Author: Ivana