ArtSpeaks
Art speaks. We listen.
ArtSpeaks Lecture / Power Dressing: Dragons in Chinese Imperial Costume
Friday, January 10 / 6PM-7PM
In late imperial China, dragons depicted in shimmering silk were potent expressions of political power. Although early texts mention dragons as one of twelve designs decorating the ruler’s robes, over time dragons surpassed the other motifs to become the primary visual symbol of the emperor. In this talk, Lee Talbot, Curator of Textile Museum Collections, the George Washington University Museum and the Textile Museum, Washington, D.C., will trace the dragon motif’s rise to supremacy in imperial iconography and explore how different types, numbers, and configurations of dragons on court costume could express complex political hierarchies.
Space is limited; online registration required.
Cost: Museum Admission / Members FREE
Stiller Auditorium
Support for this program was provided by the Gayle and Paul Gross Education Endowment Fund.