In
China: West Meets East at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Great Museums explores the nature of Chinese art and its relevance to Western ideas. In the 18th and 19th centuries, “China” simply meant the fine porcelain-ware found in the cabinets of better homes. But the emergence of China as a major political and economic power has caused people to be curious about its culture. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has the most comprehensive collection of Chinese art outside of Asia.