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The Economist: What China Wants

An August 2014 issue of weekly newspaper The Economist licensed a reproduction of a painting of ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius, sourced from the Bridgeman archive. It was superimposed onto a photograph of a modern bus stop in China to illustrate the country’s struggle to identify with its traditional past and powerful economic future.  

Illustration from 'What China wants' from The Economist, August 23rd 2014, p.41

 

 

 

Portrait of Confucius (c.551-479 BC) (gouache on paper scroll), 17th century Chinese School
Portrait of Confucius (c.551-479 BC) (gouache on paper scroll), 17th century Chinese School

 


Though Confucius lived between c.551-479 BC, the image chosen was a 17th century painting created during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). The philosopher and his theories on family, self-cultivation and virtue have inspired painters and sculptors for centuries across the world. 



Find out more

The Economist have a legacy of stirring up controversy with their cover designs using historical paintings. See more witty montages featuring Bridgeman Images, including Berlusconi and the fall of Rome and Rembrandt reviving the world economy

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