The year 2024 is a significant milestone, marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France.

The two countries have a long history of friendship and cultural exchange. As early as the 18th century, France established significant economic and cultural ties with China. This led to a wave of interest in China, or in other words, a fancy for China and Chinese culture, among the French, ranging from royalty and intellectuals to ordinary citizens.

Why was there an influx of "Chinese elements" in 18th-century France?How did Chinese culture and art influence the everyday lives of the French people?

"Chinese style" in France: where did it come from?

The Silk Road served as the trading route between the East and West until the 13th century. With the discovery of new sea routes in the 16th century, Chinese porcelain, lacquerware, silk, and tea found their way into European households. The virtual value of Chinese products rose along with the positive image of China and China-praising literature. A surge of interest in Sinology emerged in Europe during the 17th century, covering various aspects such as politics, economics, society, and customs.

During the European Enlightenment (17th-18th centuries), great thinkers like Voltaire used China's political practices as inspiration for reshaping the challenging circumstances in French society. China became a model for study and imitation, leading to a century-long wave of interest across Europe.

Moreover, the French royal family actively encouraged and promoted the popularity of Chinese culture at that time. From King Henri IV (1553-1610) to Louis XVI (1754-1793), the aristocrats and affluent individuals became avid collectors of Chinese art, further fueling the fascination with all things Chinese.

Chinese style in 18th-century French art

Paneling, prints, and oil paintings were popular mediums for expressing Chinese elements in 18th-century France.

Paneled chambers were symbols of identity and status during that time. The 30 Chinese-style paneling paintings in the "China Room" at Château de la Miette near Paris garnered considerable attention.

Printmaking also played a crucial role in depicting Chinese cultural elements. Prints by François Boucher, a prominent French Rococo artist, circulated throughout Europe and served as significant references for creating a particular Chinese artistic trend in various regions.

One notable oil painting is Boucher's tapestry for the Royal Tapestry Factory in Beauvais. This masterpiece portrays China from three perspectives: a peaceful nation, neighborly joys, and familial harmony. It thereby produces an all-encompassing, three-dimensional image of China in the eyes of Europeans,meeting the French aspirations for a better life. These paintings collectively formed the so-called "Chinese style"movement in 18th-century Europe.

Furthermore, the paintings showcased magnificent landscapes and emphasized an Oriental spirit with various trees, flowers, Chinese architecture, and furnishings. The depictions of Chinese figures dressed in robes often conveyed a sense of carefreeness, pleasantness, and humor.

The influence of Chinese art on French people's daily life

The influences ranged from technological advancements to aesthetic and lifestyle changes.

Porcelain and lacquerware became highly sought-after Chinese commodities in Europe then. France acquired the skill of producing hard porcelain from Jingdezhen, China, enabling the availability of elegant French-made Chinese-style porcelain in ordinary households.

With the advent of new sea routes to the East, Europe began imitating Chinese lacquerware using gum and shellac. Voltaire, an admirer of China, regarded "Vernis Martin", a lacquer style developed by the Martin brothers in 18th-century France, as being on par with Chinese lacquer art.

The diffusion of Chinese art and culture significantly influenced French artistic taste. Oriental patterns adorned French silk fabrics, while Chinese ceramics found their place in French interiors.

The emergence of the Rococo style exemplified a typical aesthetic change influenced by China, as recorded in European art history.

Chinese arts and culture gently influenced the French way of life. In 1684, during a banquet at the Palace of Versailles, Louis XIV received a Latin version of The Four Books (The Great Learning, The Doctrine of the Mean, The Confucian Analects, and The Works of Mencius) and learned how to use chopsticks. Consequently, French nobility started attending dances adorned with Chinese decorations and even emulated Chinese customs, riding in sedan chairs. Chinese-themed plays also captivated both French royalty and commoners as popular entertainment.

Tea, the mysterious drink from the East, became a necessity for the French in the 18th century. There are even records of the establishment of teahouses in France. Thus, tea, teacups, and teapots became prominent in artworks from that era.

The article is based on the interview with Liu Yu, lecturer from the School of Design at the South China University of Technology.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of DeepChina.