Authentic: Truth and Perception in Chinese Art

What does it mean for a work of art to be “authentic,” and what are we able to learn from this? In China, looking to the past is a way of learning and an act of homage. Finding that an object reinterprets one made earlier does not mean it is less valuable.

Overview

Through a close look at a selection of works from the collection, explore the act of copying from the Chinese artistic perspective, and learn how attitudes toward authenticity are nuanced and culturally specific. Discover the intention behind the creation of a work while closely examining motifs and details, and compare contemporary views on authenticity with those of the past.

Highlights

Objects include rock crystal carvings made for European and American taste, enamel-decorated porcelain vases and bowls, luminous glazed ceramics, and prints about the Sino-Japanese War (1894–95) offering differing viewpoints on the conflict.