Qi Baishi: 12 works

'Qi Baishi (1864-1957, born in Xiangtan, Hunan) was most adept at capturing natural features of ordinary biological beings. Grass, insects, fish and shrimps are vivid and lifelike in his paintings.'

'Originally from Xiangtan in Hunan province, he studied painting while working as a carpenter or doing cabinetwork and joinery. Beginning in 1902 (Guangxu 28), he traveled five times over a sevenyear period to Shanxi, Jiangxi, Guangdong, and Guangxi, after which he moved to Beijing, where he remained.'

'This series of plants and insects painting album was created in 1924; it comprehensively displays Qi Baishi's seeking for breakthrough in paintings. The painter, with his master-hand skills, captured every act and every move of small lives in the universe, matching plant flowers in free-hand style and insects in fine sketching.'

'This series of plants and insects painting album was created in 1924; it comprehensively displays Qi Baishi's seeking for breakthrough in paintings.'

'The painter, with his master-hand skills, captured every act and every move of small lives in the universe, matching plant flowers in free-hand style and insects in fine sketching.'

'Qi Baishi (1864 - 1957) modeled his flower paintings primarily on Xu Wei (1521 - 1593), Zhu Da (1626 - 1705) and Li Shan (1686 - circa 1760). Having undertaken his "late-year reforms" subsequent to his meeting with Chen Shizeng (1876 - 1923) when he settled in Beijing in 1917, Qi began to paint flowers in a highly expressive style.'

'Qi Baishi integrated flowers and insects which are commonly seen in the nature with his simplicity and modesty, converting the weak and sad in old literary works to vitality and abundance.'

'The postscript on the painting helps viewers to understand the painter's intention:"Not itchy in the lower part, but he scratches the lower part; not itchy in the upper side, but he scratches the upper side; you are not me, how can you know my feelings?"Normally, paintings of ZhongKuidepicthis catching or killing devils as demon queller, but in this painting, Qi Baishi converted traditional opposite stands of ZhongKui and ghost evils into a moderate relationship between master and servant.'

'Qi Baishi (1864 - 1957) was born in a peasant family. He was a carpenter in his early years and then became a professional painter.'

'Qi Baishi (1864 - 1957) was born in a peasant family.'

'In 1917, Qi Baishi met Chen Shiceng who was the leader of painting circle in Beijing. Chen encouraged Qi to create his own painting style, so Qi Baishi began the famous "reform of declining years" when he was 57 years old.'

'In 1917, Qi Baishi met Chen Shiceng who was the leader of painting circle in Beijing.'