Museum Exhibition
Monstrous Beauty: A Feminist Revision of Chinoiserie
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
March 25, 2025 – August 17, 2025
Monstrous Beauty unites 200 works from 16th-century Europe to today, showcasing Asian and Asian American women artists in a fresh chinoiserie dialogue.
Exhibition artworks
Representative work
Japan
色絵婦人立像|Figure of a Standing Beauty
ca. 1670–90
Porcelain with overglaze polychrome enamels (Arita ware, Kakiemon type)
H. 15 5/8 in. (39.7 cm); W. 5 3/8 in. (13.7 cm); D. 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm)
View artwork at the museumFeatured works
Medici Porcelain Manufactory
Ewer (Brocca)
ca. 1575–80
Soft-paste porcelain
Height: 11 5/8 in. (29.5 cm)
View at museumChinese, for European market
Cup and saucer
early 18th century
Hard-paste porcelain
Overall (cup .1): 2 × 3 1/2 in. (5.1 × 8.9 cm); Diameter (saucer .2): 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm)
View at museumDoccia Porcelain Manufactory
Two sweetmeat dishes
ca. 1750–60
Hard-paste porcelain
Height (each): 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm)
View at museumWilliam Hogarth
A Harlot's Progress, Plate 2
before April 1732
Etching and engraving; first state of four
sheet: 12 7/16 x 14 15/16 in. (31.6 x 37.9 cm)
View at museumChina
Bowl
China
Porcelain painted in overglaze enamels and gilt
H. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm); Diam. 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm); Diam. of foot 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm)
View at museumChinese, for the European market
Woman with a pipe
ca. 1760–80
Reverse-painted crown glass, imitation lacquer frame
Frame, confirmed: 20 1/2 × 15 5/8 × 1 1/8 in. (52.1 × 39.7 × 2.9 cm) Other (estimated object dimensions from frame): 18 1/4 × 13 1/4 in. (46.4 × 33.7 cm)
View at museum138 documented works in this exhibition
View all 138 documented works