Night Revels of Han Xizai

Handscroll;Color on silk; 533cm(width)*22cm(height) This painting depicts the life of a Southern Tang official, Han Xizai. The work breaks up the concept of time through the use of panels, an office desk, musical instruments, and day beds. The five scenes (listening to music, watching a dance performance, resting, playing musical instruments, and saying farewell) are well positioned in a single painting. In this reproduction of the refinement and elegance of the lifestyle of the Southern Tang literati, it is almost impossible to hide the despondency and emotion Han Xizai feels toward political life. It is a successful portrayal of his complex mood.