Public domain
Painting of three Westerners
From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
The devil hunter Zhong Kui in European dress. China, 1783. Signed Zhang Rulin of Minzhong. Ink and colours on silk. A European print was clearly employed as the basis for the depiction of this subject. The Chinese called Westerners 'red-haired devils'. That is probably what gave the artist the idea of portraying this Chinese exorciser of devils, Zhong Kui, as a European. Paintings of the devil hunter accompanied by one or two demons were made especially to be shown at new year. Bats and peaches ? symbols of goodluck and long life ? are always featured in these pictures.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own descriptionSubjects
Credit lineSchildering van drie westerlingen. 1738. Zhang Rulin. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.
