Xi Shi (西施) is the first of the legendary "Four great beauties". Together with another beautiful woman, Zheng Dan (鄭旦), she was given as a present to a king by his beaten rival, with secret orders to spy on him and distract him from state and military business.
This poster shows Mei Lanfang (梅兰芳) in the role of Xi Shi, and his son Mei Baojiu (梅葆玖) as Zheng Dan.