Wife, Wealth, Sons, and a Salary

You see a Chinese print of a man sitting under a tree, surrounded by his wife, three sons, and a servant holding a scroll that reads “salary.

You see a Chinese print of a man sitting under a tree, surrounded by his wife, three sons, and a servant holding a scroll that reads “salary.”

This was a wall poster meant for middle-class homes during the Kangxi reign. The scene shows off family success—wealth, sons, and a steady job—all in bright, flat colors. It’s like a 17th-century vision board.

To see more prints from this time, look up *kangxi reign (1622–1722)*.