Art of the Han
汉代艺术

After influential archaeological excavations of Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) tombs in the 1950s and the discovery of the tomb of the first emperor of the Qin dynasty (221–206 BCE) in 1974, scholars were able to analyze artworks with securely dated references, enabling academic research on Han art to experience rapid development. Han artists and artisans developed a distinct style during the dynasty’s four-century governance of China. Bold, simple outlines, three-dimensional shapes, and a trend towards realism characterized the Han aesthetic, which was a vivid reflection of the brilliance and vigor of the Han. Han art has been influential throughout Chinese history, and Han culture still forms the core national consciousness of the Chinese. This exhibition featured eighty-two Han dynasty objects, primarily sculpture, as well as vessels, tiles, mirrors, and other decorative objects.