Collection

Snake Catcher

Pu-Qua

  • Snake Catcher 2
Basic information
ID
Г-IV-5531/49
Author
Pu-Qua
Name
Snake Catcher
Date of creation
late 17th – early 18th c.
Country
China
Culture
Far East
Technique
etching watercolor embossing
Material
Indian ink paper
Dimensions (height x width, cm)
29.3 x 24.4
Information about author
Author
Pu-Qua
Artist's lifetime
1494–1552
Biography
Chinese artist
Object description
A man is depicted in profile with a turn to the left. The snake catcher is squatting. He is dressed in a dark green shirt with short sleeves and gray knee-length pants. The man's head is shaved; he is barefoot. With both hands, the man holds a black and green snake that is wrapping around his left arm. A pitcher-shaped basket is tied to the man's belt on the left side. The etching comes from the album "Chinese Customs and National Costumes", which includes 60 images of Chinese people engaged in various activities. Each image is accompanied by an explanation in German; some of them are written in French. In the eighteenth century, artists in Canton (Guangzhou) in southern China created such paintings for Europeans seeking to learn more about China and its people.
Inscriptions
In the lower left corner, there is a calligraphic inscription "Pu-Qua.Canton. Delin'' made in Indian ink. In the lower right corner, there is an inscription "Dadley.London.Sculpt". There is a number "49" in the upper right corner.