Court Ladies Preparing Newly Woven Silk is a handscroll painting in ink and color on silk, attributed to Emperor Huizong of the Song dynasty and dated to the early 12th century. The work presents a continuous frieze of court women engaged in the various stages of silk production, a theme associated with imperial ritual and the prosperity of the state during the Song period. The painting is recognized as an important example of court art from the Northern Song dynasty, reflecting the refined aesthetic and technical skill promoted under Emperor Huizong’s patronage. The composition unfolds from right to left, showing groups of elegantly dressed women pounding the silk, sewing and ironing the finished fabric.

The figures are rendered with delicate outlines and subtle color washes, set against an unadorned silk ground. The use of pale, harmonious colors and careful attention to the drapery and hairstyles emphasize the courtly setting, while the arrangement of figures in distinct clusters illustrates the sequential process of silk preparation. Court Ladies Preparing Newly Woven Silk is based on a celebrated subject that was originally painted by Zhang Xuan in the Tang dynasty, though the original is lost. The Song dynasty version is traditionally attributed to Emperor Huizong, who was known for his interest in painting and calligraphy.

The work has been preserved in several important collections over the centuries and is regarded as a significant representation of imperial patronage and the ceremonial role of silk in Chinese court life. It is now in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.