A picture of harmony

Portraits, as one of the oldest forms of art in the world, continue to entice audiences today, as they provide clues to the depth of cultural and social transformations over centuries. Harmony of Figures and Spirits, an ongoing exhibition at the National Museum of China, showcases dozens of colored ink portraits from its collection of Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasty art. It focuses on the spiritual approach of ancient Chinese artists. They were scholarly. They carried forward a tradition of art, consisting of refined techniques, a temperament of simplicity and elegance alongside a sense of humanity. The exhibition also reflects the distinctive aspect of classical Chinese portraits, which is to reinforce the philosophy of tian ren he yi－achieving harmony between people and nature through various activities－through which the literati class attempted to elevate themselves to a higher level of self-improvement.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. 16 East Chang'an Avenue, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6511-6400.