General Guo Ziyi’s Birthday Banquet Korea, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)

General Guo Ziyi’s Birthday Banquet

곽분양행락도(郭汾陽行樂圖)

early or mid-1800s

Korea, Joseon dynasty

(1392–1910)

Eight-panel folding screen, embroidery on silk

Painting: 60.9 x 30 cm (24 x 11 13/16 in.); Overall framed: 195.2 x 332.4 cm (76 7/8 x 130 7/8 in.)

gift of the honorable Joseph P. Carroll, KM, and Roberta Carroll, M.D., in recognition of the contribution of Marjorie Williams to the development of The Cleveland Museum of Art 2020.87

Location: not on view

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Did You Know?

This folding screen is highly likely to have been created by an amateur woman embroiderer.

Description

The subject of this folding screen is a banquet in honor of Guo Ziyi (697–781), who is considered one of the greatest generals in Chinese history. He had a long and successful military career as well as a blissful family life. Thus, his image surrounded by his numerous family members symbolize the paragon of success and happiness. Using a wide spectrum of colorful silk threads, the artist colorfully depicts Guo enjoying his full-fledged retirement life.