The Chinese Classical Novel “Dream in the Red Chamber” in the Woodblock Illustrated Editions and Popular Woodblock Prints from the Collections of Saint Petersburg

Abstract

The study focuses on the illustrated woodblock editions of the renown Chinese classical novel Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Хueqin (1715–1763), as well as albums and popular woodblock prints (or nianhua 年畫) featuring protagonists and scenes from the novel. The books and popular prints discussed in this study were found at the Oriental Section of the M. Gorky Academic Library (Saint Petersburg State University) and Russian museums: the State Hermitage, the State Museum of the History of Religion, Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography RAS etc. Aim of the study is to reveal specific methods of portraying scenes and protagonists in book illustrations and popular prints and explain their differences. While illustrated books should have met tastes of the literate audience, popular woodblocks were appreciated by both illiterate and literate rural and urban population, who primarily valued their auspicious meaning. The paper shows differences between book illustrations and woodblock prints, revealing connections between albums and popular prints. The latter even though followed old conventions of composition, line and coloring received stylistic influence of the recognized painter Gai Qi (1773–1828) and his album with portraits of female protagonists (1879). Another painter Qian Huian (1833–1911) was invited to help printing houses with setting standards of depicting scenes from the novel. It is worth mentioning thatartists who produced popular prints at Yangliuqing had favorite themes, scenes and protagonists, which met the tastes of wide public.