A Study on “KeZi Tu” in Enamel Porcelains of Mid-18th Century Qing Dynasty China and Sèvres, France

The “KeZi Tu” motif, as an important decorative pattern in traditional Chinese porcelain, features scenes of mothers teaching their children to read and study. In the 18th century, the prosperity of global trade significantly accelerated cultural exchanges between China and the West. Large quantities of Chinese porcelain flowed into Europe, while European missionaries brought religious images and painting techniques to China. This cultural interaction fostered new styles in the art world. Serving as a typical example, the “KeZi Tu” motif exhibits a unique “East-West fusion” style in Qing dynasty painted enamel porcelain and French Sèvres porcelain. Focusing on mid-18th century imperial Qing painted enamel porcelain and French Sèvres porcelain, this paper employs iconographic methods to deeply analyze their artistic characteristics, including composition, character imagery, and spatial representation. The study reveals that the “East-West fusion” artistic style embodied in the “KeZi Tu” motif originates from multiple factors: the cultural interconnectedness of mother and child imagery, the promoting role of European missionaries, the rarity of exotic artworks, and the drive of commercial interests. This research provides a new perspective for understanding Sino-Western cultural integration and its impact on the evolution of artistic styles.