In the 17th and 18th centuries, many European aristocrats were captivated by the luxury goods being imported from China, which they assigned an aura of exotic mystery. Eventually, European artists, architects and designers began taking inspiration from Eastern aesthetics, like the distinctive blue and white colouration and elegant designs of Chinese porcelain. But as so few Europeans had firsthand knowledge of China, what emerged, per this video essay from the YouTube channel Kings and Things, was ‘a European dream of a distant and wondrous place’. This style, which integrated Chinese motifs and European Rococo exuberance, came to be known as Chinoiserie. Taking viewers on a tour through some of Europe’s most notable Chinoiserie structures, most of which served as pleasure palaces for their wealthy builders, the video provides a fascinating look at this moment in European architectural history.
Video by Kings and Things
video
Architecture
The celebrated architect who took inspiration from sitting, waiting and contemplating
29 minutes
video
Anthropology
Why are witchcraft accusations so common across human societies?
4 minutes
video
Subcultures
Drop into London’s eclectic skate scene, where newbies and old-timers find community
5 minutes
video
Wellbeing
Born in China, Zee seeks a gender-affirming life in the American Midwest
11 minutes
video
Rituals and celebrations
A whale hunt is an act of prayer for an Inuit community north of the Arctic Circle
8 minutes
video
Music
The peculiar beauty of a song caught between composition and improvisation
3 minutes
video
Rituals and celebrations
A beginner’s guide to a joyful Persian tradition of spring renewal and rebirth
3 minutes
video
Politics and government
How it looked to Afghan women to see the Taliban return to power
33 minutes
video
Love and friendship
Love looks a bit different for a chain-smoking couple in a small apartment
11 minutes