Chinoiserie (from the French word chinois, meaning “Chinese”) refers to a European artistic style inspired by Chinese art, design, and culture. It emerged during the 17th and 18th centuries, reaching its height in the Rococo period, and is characterized by a romanticized and idealized interpretation of Chinese aesthetics. This style is less about accurate depictions of Chinese culture and more about a European fantasy of the exotic East, blending Chinese motifs with Western decorative arts.

Traditional Chinese animal painting is a significant genre within Chinese art, reflecting the deep cultural, philosophical, and symbolic connections between humans and animals. Often created using traditional techniques such as ink and wash (水墨画) or gongbi (工笔, meticulous brushwork), these paintings are rich in symbolic meanings and serve to convey moral lessons, philosophical ideas, and expressions of beauty in nature.