Note: This is a painting produced in the last fifty years by an artist who is presumably still alive. I do not have copyright in any way over this artist’s work. I’m reproducing it here because (a) these images are of ethnographic interest, (b) I’d hope that shining more light on contemporary mural and scroll painters will ultimately be good for their trade, and (c) frankly, these people seem unlikely to sue me. To that last point: It’s possible to commission images from contemporary village painters. If you’re interested, email me and I’d be happy to give you the contact information of several painters we met.

Structure Type: Village screen-wall 村落影壁.

Location: The screen-wall sits at the entrance to the main street of a post-Revolution village. Note that I have no idea what Nan Xi Ji 南洗冀 means (lit. “South Washing Hebei Province”). The latter two characters could be understood as rather rare surnames, in which case it would be read South Xian [Family] and Ji [Family] Village, but I didn’t think to stop and ask this when I passed.

Period: Undated, late 20th century.

Artist: Unknown.

Mural Contents: The mural shows a massive multi-lane highway sweeping away into a forest of sky-scrapers. It is both aspirational and efficacious – using the visual technique of receding perspective, the image literally superimposes an aspirational future over the impoverished present blocked from view behind the screen.

Other Notes: I just snapped this photo as I walked past one afternoon – it’s not even totally in focus, and I don’t have any other photos from this village. Nevertheless I always liked this image.