The Chinese Goddess Pusa in Two Forms

workshop of Bernard Picart, 1726

Standing in front of a pagoda and a rocky landscape is the Buddhist deity bodhisattva (Pusa). Picart portrayed her as the ancient Greek goddess Cybele. This was hardly new, for Jesuit writers had been disseminating this image since the early 17th century. This is but one example of Picart’s Eurocentric viewpoint, full of misconceptions about Chinese religion, which persisted despite the increasing trade exchange with China.

  • Artwork typeprint, boekillustratie
  • Object numberRP-P-1911-3230
  • Dimensionsheight 332 mm x width 218 mm
  • Physical characteristicsets en gravure