Unknown artist
Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Plaque, Kangxi Period, ca. 1662-1772
Porcelain
7.5 x 10.25 in.
Gift of Dan McLawhorn, Class of 1970, and Robert J. Hazelgrove, Jr.
While this may look like a simple painting, it is actually a porcelain plaque painted with brilliant blue and white glazes. I had the chance to examine and discuss this artwork in my Asian Art After 1000 class this semester.
This porcelain artwork is from the Kangxi Period, although its artist is unknown. The Kangxi Period lasted from 1662-1772 under the reign of Emperor Kangxi within the Qing Dynasty, China. Blue and white glazed porcelain flourished under his rule.
When I picture blue and white porcelain, I typically envision intricate vases and plates painted with floral motifs and vegetal patterns. Indeed, upon doing a quick Google search of Chinese blue and white porcelain, the primary images were of vases and plates. In reality there is a lot more variety to Chinese porcelain, especially depending on the dynasty, period, and date.
Kangxi Period porcelain often included designs based on dramas or illustrated stories, or sometimes Buddhist and Daoist themes. Landscapes, rocks, trees, and figures are common in depicting these scenes. Many who viewed the artwork during the Kangxi Period might have recognized the scene from a popular story or drama. This piece in particular is a relatively small-sized plaque that could have been hung on a wall to view and enjoy or framed and placed on a table.
The scene featured is a landscape. In the center of the composition, a large rock protrudes from the water, while two individuals seem to be discussing while strolling along a small path. A figure in a boat is present, with what appears to be a fishing pole, perhaps catching his dinner. A small architectural structure is behind the central rock. More boulders surround the composition, with subtle bushes and trees. A circle is visible in the sky that could be either the moon or the sun. The lightness of the sky and highlights on the boulders gives me the impression this is a morning scene with the sun having recently risen.
When discussing this piece in my Asian Art class, we talked about the artist creating pathways to enter the painting. The two figures walk along a natural path, allowing them to cross over the water. The path extends past the edge of the painting, giving the viewer a way to enter. The viewer can follow the path the two individuals took, cutting through the rocks to reach the temple. The presence of a boat provides an alternative path to enter the painting.
The combination of the blue and white glaze with the isolated landscape creates a calming, serene feel. I can imagine these individuals on a peaceful religious retreat, having discussions among the boulders and trees. Based on the imagery typical of Kangxi porcelain, this piece might have been inspired by a drama or book, transporting viewers to the world of the story, providing a retreat to a space more tranquil than their own.
– Natalie Fox ’27