The exhibition From Beijing to Moscow: A Dialog of Cultures opened on November 17 at the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia.Jointly organized by the National Museum of China and the State Tretyakov Gallery, the exhibition serves as a cultural tribute to the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the China–Russia diplomatic relations and stands as a flagship project of the China–Russia Years of Culture. It features 84 carefully selected works of calligraphy, painting, and scholarly objects from the National Museum of China. Organized around three narrative threads—imperial treasures, literati creations, and works from the folk tradition—the exhibition highlights different dimensions of Ming and Qing dynasty (14th–19th century) art. Immersive, reconstructed settings adorned with classical Chinese painting and calligraphy offer Russian visitors a panoramic view of the art form’s development, from brushwork techniques to creative ideals.
All pieces are being shown in Russia for the first time, including Portrait of the Kangxi Emperor Reading, Xu Yang’s Qianlong Emperor’s Southern Inspection Tour (Volume 8), Shen Zhou’s Peach Blossom Studio, and Wen Zhengming’s Snowy Landscape, among other masterpieces. Moving beyond conventional art-historical narratives, the exhibition places people at its core, presenting brush and ink as a living language through which generations of Chinese individuals have perceived the world and expressed themselves. It also illustrates how members of the imperial court, the literati, and the wider populace created, appreciated and made use of painting and calligraphy.
The exhibition is open until February 23, 2026.
Source: National Museum of China