Not currently on display at the V&A

A snowy Night in Oxford

Calligraphy
1944 (made)
Place of origin

In 1939 Chiang’s Hampstead flat was destroyed during a German bombing raid. He moved to Oxford where he lived for the next 15 years. In 1944 he wrote The Silent Traveller in Oxford. The illustrations show a development in his artistic style, revealing a new naive aesthetic and heightened colour. However, the book also includes a large number of black and white sketches and poems. This poem reads: " At midnight the cold creeps in and I drink tea instead of wine; Oh the gentle sound on the small window of snow blown by the wind! In Oxford I have twice seen winter's arrival and departure: Who can have the same deep longing as I have now for my homeland.


Object details

Object type
TitleA snowy Night in Oxford (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
ink on paper
Brief description
calligraphy, paper, China, 20th century
Physical description
poem, written in chinese
Object history
This object was acquired by the V&A Museum subsequently to its loan to the display " The Silent Traveller: Chiang Yee In Britain 1933 – 1955 5 " in the Tsui Gallery of Chinese Art ( 23 April – 9 November 2012). The display explored the creative endeavours of the Chinese artist and writer Chiang Yee (1903 – 1977) during his time in Britain between 1933 and 1955.
Summary
In 1939 Chiang’s Hampstead flat was destroyed during a German bombing raid. He moved to Oxford where he lived for the next 15 years. In 1944 he wrote The Silent Traveller in Oxford. The illustrations show a development in his artistic style, revealing a new naive aesthetic and heightened colour. However, the book also includes a large number of black and white sketches and poems. This poem reads: " At midnight the cold creeps in and I drink tea instead of wine; Oh the gentle sound on the small window of snow blown by the wind! In Oxford I have twice seen winter's arrival and departure: Who can have the same deep longing as I have now for my homeland.
Collection
Accession number
FE.94-2013

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Record createdMarch 26, 2013
Record URL
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