Seventeenth-century Chinese Women Painters: the Economics of their Works in the Seventeenth Century and the Forgeries of their Works in the Eighteenth Century

The proposed research will focus on seventeenth?century gentry women and courtesans in the Jiangnanarea (modern?day Jiangsu, Anhui, and Zhejiang), and examine in detail the economics of “selling” theirworks, and their involvements in the art market. The study will answer the questions:1. How did a seventeenth?century woman painter exchange her artworks for intangible, orperhaps tangible, benefits?2. What other roles were undertaken by seventeenth?century women in the market in addition toproducing art?3. What factors were related to selling and making forgeries of her works both during her lifetimein the seventeenth century and in the eighteenth century after she passed away?This proposed research will first call for a reassessment of the lives and artworks of seventeenth?centuryChinese women painters. Second, it will deepen our understanding of the relationships between theforgery market and paintings by seventeenth?century Chinese women. Finally, unlike studies onwomen’s biographies, painting styles, and family connections, this project will contribute to knowledgeabout the social, political, and economic dimensions of the lives of Chinese women painters inseventeenth?century China.My investigation will use a social?historical approach and focus on women painters and their networksof families and social circles. My preliminary research indicates that the study of painting and writing isthe most effective way to understand:1. the relationships among the painters, agents, and patrons;2. the circulation of the artisits’ works; and3. the connoisseurship of and market for works attributed to these women.Although scholars acknowledge that some women painters would use their paintings in exchange forbenefits, they concentrate their discussions only on monetary benefits or gifts. Paintings should notsolely be treated as products of “commissioning and producing.” Social status, risk, cost, favors, andlimitations may intervene during a transaction and affect its outcome. Moreover, connoisseurship alsoinvolves a dissemination of information that has a cost. All these might not be simply exchanged interms of money and gifts especially in case of courtesans paintings. Therefore, in relevant cases,economic theories—such as game theory—will be used to examine the intricate relationships betweenpatrons (or collectors), connoisseurs (or agents), and painters in the art scene of seventeenth?centuryChina.