Screens as Architectural Interfaces in the Formation of Visual Boundaries Within Study Spaces Depicted in Song Dynasty Paintings

Study-related activities depicted in Song Dynasty paintings occur where built and natural environments meet. Visual boundaries are shaped by architectural components, furniture, and movable interfaces such as screens. However, cross-image analysis of screens’ role in visual boundary formation remains limited. Using The Complete Collection of Song Paintings and publicly available museum images, this study compares 12 activity units from 10 focal paintings. Visual-element extraction, diagrammatic translation, and structured relational analysis examine three dimensions: directional position, relationship with core furniture, and interface configuration. The results show that (1) screens are positioned behind or beside activity areas, helping define local visual boundaries; (2) in 8 units, screens are adjacent to or combined with core furniture, while 4 show relatively independent screen–furniture relationships; and (3) 10 units feature single-screen configurations, whereas 2 involve composite interfaces combining rear and lateral boundary definition while maintaining visual connections with surrounding space. Screens are therefore interpreted not merely as furnishings but as movable, non-wall interfaces involved in the spatial organization represented in the paintings. Their adjustable positions and configurations offer a historical reference for considering flexible interface arrangements in contemporary study-related spaces.