Title
Chinese woodblock print depicting conjurors and acrobats with the inscription ‘Merriment, Peace and Prosperity’
Year/Period
Early-mid 20th century
Region
Suzhou, China
Material
paper
Technique
wood block print
Dimension
Image size: H35.5 x W57.3 cm (Mount),
Image size: 30.3 x 2 cm
Image size: 30.3 x 2 cm
Accession No.
2010-00915
Collection of
NLB Type
Cultural artefact
This print depicting a merry scene was produced in Taohuawu, a village in Suzhou province famous for its new year prints, characterised by vibrant colour schemes. Woodblock prints were in mass production across China until the Cultural Revolution. Traditional woodblock prints which depict images of gods or auspicious themes were deemed as objects of superstition and had to be destroyed with their printing moulds. Only propaganda prints designed by the authorities that depicted communist ideologies were printed and circulated.
