Artwork
A Chinese man cutting paste
A Chinese man cutting paste is a drawing by the Romanticist artist George Chinnery. It dates from 10 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This drawing shows a Chinese man bent over a table, cutting a roll with a knife. The artist used simple lines to show the task clearly. George Chinnery made it in 1841.
It’s one of the few drawings Chinnery left behind that shows daily life in China. Most of his work was portraits or landscapes instead.
Check out more drawings by George Chinnery.
Overview
This drawing by George Chinnery depicts a Chinese man engaged in a task. Created in 1841, it is a simple yet informative representation.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a man cutting a roll with a knife, bent over a table. The scene offers a glimpse into daily life in China, a relatively rare theme in Chinnery's oeuvre, which mostly comprised portraits and landscapes.
Technique & Style
The artist employed straightforward lines to convey the task clearly, resulting in a straightforward and unadorned representation.
History & Provenance
The drawing was created by George Chinnery in 1841, a date that situates it within the artist's body of work from that period.
Artist & collection
Artist
George Chinnery (Chinese: 錢納利; 5 January 1774 – 30 May 1852) was an English painter who spent most of his life in Asia, especially India and southern China.
