Shi Nu Hua (仕女画)

Chinese paintings are largely classified into Shan Sui Hua (山水画) Landscape Paintings, Hua Niao Hua (花鸟画) or Flowers and Birds Paintings and and Ren Wu Hua (人物画) or Figure Paintings. (See Beauty of Hua Niao Hua (花鸟画) posted  on Sept 2, 2011)

Ren Wu Hua (人物画) have one particular sub-division called Shi Nu Hua (仕女画). Shi Nu (仕女) can be translated as Court Lady or more generally Noble Woman. Like almost any other Chinese things Shi Nu Hua  (or Noble Woman Figure Paintings) have a vast traditions and a long history.

I cannot find so far the English version Wiki for this word and Chinese version Wiki (as of June 30, 2012) does have but very simple (or poor or even misleading). Baide explains a lot (http://baike.baidu.com/view/17294.htm) even including how to make them.

The Baide's explanations have largely three parts - 1) history, 2) representative works and 3) <how to> of Shi Nu Hua,

1) History

Quite a long history. Dates back to Tang Dynasty and already established as one category of Shi Nu Hua (仕女画). One big change (largely deterioration) happened in Yuan Dynasty. Before Yuan Dynasty the women painted in Shi Nu Hua were healthy, well balanced, flexible but strong and elegant, graceful and beautiful women. Since Yuan Dynasty those women changed to more symbolic (less expression and less real lives) and especially in Qing Dynasty went to extreme - apparently week and not healthy, submissive women.

2) Representative works

The works of the two famous painters Wu Daozi ( 吴道子)and Han Xizai (韩熙载) before Yuan Dynasty. The paintings are mostly multi-figures including men.

3) <How to> of  Shi Nu Hua,

Contrary to the above  2) Representative works, <how to> here describes how to paint Shi Nu in the Chinese traditional ways although recommended showing more creativity.  Lin Fengming (林風眠) painted many modern or somehow westernized Shi Nu's.

Apparently Shi Nu Hua have historically changed as the men's tastes for women have changed or the socially accepted ideal women have changed. On the contrary Chinese women may have not changed much as you might think.  They have been strong.

Very generally the women in Shi Nu Hua and especially those in Qing Dynasty and modern ones of the traditional style are slender (usually very slender), with small head downward tilted above a slender neck and a  small mouse, whitish (not healthy) skin, waring a traditional long dress with legs hidden and quite often surrounded by strange shape rocks in a Chinese garden.

However if you see them positively Shi Nu Hua the women in them are elegant, graceful, serene, quiet, light (not heavy), clean (secluded from a dirty world).

AAG