Art Around the World World Art    

Lesson 13: Court Ladies Preparing Newly Woven Silk (portion)

by Zhang Xuan

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the art region or artist.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

'Court Ladies Preparing Newly Woven Silk' is the only existing copy of a painting originally created by Chinese artist, Zhang Xuan. In ancient times, the ladies of the Chinese imperial court held an annual spring silk production ceremony. On the far left of the painting, ladies hold a long length of silk while two young girls watch. Just to the right, another lady crouches near a fire heating a paddle. In the center, two seated women sew. On the far right, ladies use poles to pound silk cloth.

Vocabulary

Court: The establishment, retinue (group of advisers), and courtiers (companions to king or queen) of a sovereign.
Woven: Fabric made by interlacing threads on a loom.
Silk: A fine, strong, soft, lustrous fiber produced by silkworms in making cocoons and collected to make thread and fabric.
Imperial: Relating to an empire under a single emperor or empress.
Dynasty: A line of hereditary rulers of a country.

Concepts

1. Chinese painter Zhang Xuan was born in 713 in China.
2. Zoom in and find Xuan's birth country of China on the map of East Asia below.

3. Xuan was an artist during the Chinese Tang Dynasty, which ruled between 618–907.
4. The Tang Dynasty was a golden age of advancement, stability, art, and poetry.
5. Xuan died in 755 at the age of 42.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Silk
• Wooden Poles
• Two Young Girls
• Fire Pit
• Crouching Woman
• Sewing Women
• Women Pounding Silk Cloth with Poles

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Complete Vocabulary Activities

• While studying the new words, point out any you see in the painting.
• Define each of the vocabulary words in your own words.

Activity 4: Color the Map   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 21 of 'Art History Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'

Activity 5: Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 22 of 'Art History Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 4

Answer 1

The characters are court ladies and two small girls.

1 / 4

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 4

Answer 2

The setting is in China.

2 / 4

Question 3

What season is occurring in the painting?

3 / 4

Answer 3

The season is spring.

3 / 4

Question 4

Why are the ladies working with the silk?

4 / 4

Answer 4

The ladies are holding a silk production ceremony.

4 / 4

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? The characters are court ladies and two small girls.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is in China.
3. What season is occurring in the painting? The season is spring.
4. Why are the ladies working with the silk? The ladies are holding a silk production ceremony.

References

'Court Ladies Preparing Newly Woven Silk.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Zhang Xuan.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Tang dynasty.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.