The imitation of Chinese motifs and techniques in painting and in decorating furniture is called what?

• A. Rococo
• B. Mezzotint
• C. Chinoiserie
• D. Trompe l'oeil

Answer: (C)

Chinoiserie is the term for the European imitation of Chinese motifs and techniques in painting and decorating furniture. It reflects the 17th–18th centuries’ fascination with East Asian aesthetics, translating elements like pagodas, landscapes, lacquered surfaces, and bamboo-inspired forms into decorative arts. The other terms refer to different ideas: Rococo is a broader French decorative style known for its ornate curves and playful motifs, Mezzotint is a printmaking method for rich, tonal black-and-white images, and trompe l’oeil is a painting technique that tricks the eye into seeing real objects or textures. In the context of imitating Chinese aesthetics on furniture and paintings, chinoserie best fits.