Beginning with the post-Han period (after the 3rd century) and ending with China’s final imperial dynasty, the Manchu Qing (1644-1912), this course will take a chronological and topical approach to the classical tradition of Chinese painting as it was expressed in a variety of elite and popular genres. Topics will include, among others, scholar painting and theories of representation, the issue of amateur vs. professional artists, women painters, the relationship of painting to poetry and calligraphy, the political valances of painting, and Chinese practices of connoisseurship and collecting.

This course fulfills the following Major requirements: Geographical area (B) and Chronological period (I), (II), or (III), based on the topic of the final research paper or project.