Artwork
Girl Selling Her Silver Hair Ornament
Girl Selling Her Silver Hair Ornament is a paint painting by the Chinese Orthodox School artist Peichun Zhou. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This painting is one of over 200 works in an album documenting various occupations and customs.
About this work
Overview
This painting is one of over 200 works in an album documenting various occupations and customs. It was acquired by the museum in 1900 from Maggs Bros. and is part of the Asia Department's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts a young girl in a green robe offering a silver hair ornament to a man holding weighing scales. An inscription in Chinese, with an English translation, provides context for the transaction.
Technique & Style
The artist's use of color and composition emphasizes the interaction between the two figures, creating an intimate atmosphere. The plain background focuses attention on the girl and the man.
History & Provenance
The painting was accessioned into the museum's Asia Department collection in 1900, having been purchased from the London book and print dealership Maggs Bros.
Artist & collection
Artist
Peichun Zhou's tiny paintings feel like overheard gossip. Every inch of the page teems with someone’s daily hustle—silver hairpins, paper flowers, or a jeweler gluing kingfisher feathers onto a trinket. You can almost…
