While looking up the site Zude for a project, I found this artist that I really admire. His name was Zude and he was a Chinese artist active in the 16th or early 17th century. I wonder if there is a connection to the name or a coincidence? A lot of the social networking sites look to the past for inspiration for community. Has our society turned the corner on relationships? As we grow closer online do we grow further apart physically? What does it mean to have a site like Twitter become so popular? Does anyone in my network need to know that I am on a conference call? finishing wire frames? eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Is IM enough? IM at least gives one the feeling that they are not alone because people on their list sign in and make their presence felt from afar in digital space.
Here is information about the picture shown:
Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk; 61 3/4 x 37 7/8 in. (156.8 x 96.2 cm)
This image of an elegant elderly lady shows how the Chinese portrait painter conveyed a sense of status through the figure's accouterments. The lady's wealth is suggested by her jewelry—gold and pearl earrings and an ornate headdress fashioned out of gold and kingfisher feathers—and the sumptuous blue brocade cloth draped over the back of her chair. Her family status is further underscored by the official belt inset with elaborately worked plaques and a large rank badge with Manchurian cranes—the insignia of a civil official of the highest rank. Since women were not eligible to hold government office, these marks of rank were probably inherited from her father.
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