Qi Baishi
Qi Baishi (1864–1957) was a Chinese painter and seal-carver known for expressive, economical images of flowers, insects, fish, and other subjects.
Chinese painting: A tradition of painting in China using media such as ink, brush, and color on paper or silk. Qi worked within this broad tradition while reshaping its subjects and brushwork.
Chinese ink wash painting: A painting practice that uses ink diluted with water to create varied tones and fluid brush effects. Qi used ink’s changes in density to distinguish forms with very few strokes.
Xiangtan: A city in Hunan province, China, associated with the birthplace and early life of Qi Baishi. Qi was born near Xiangtan and remained connected to Hunan throughout his life.
Chen Shizeng: A Chinese painter and art theorist who advocated innovation grounded in traditional painting. Chen encouraged Qi to simplify his style and helped secure recognition in Beijing.
Shrimp in Chinese art: A recurring subject in Chinese painting, often rendered through brushwork that suggests translucence and movement. Qi’s shrimp paintings are among his best-known demonstrations of lively, economical brushwork.
Chinese calligraphy: The art of writing Chinese characters with controlled brushwork, valued for both legibility and expressive form. Calligraphic brush control underpins the forceful lines in Qi’s paintings.
Chinese brush: A flexible brush with a pointed tip, used for Chinese writing and painting. Its responsive tip allowed Qi to shift quickly between fine insect details and broad washes.
Hunan: A province in south-central China with a distinctive regional history and cultural traditions. Qi’s rural Hunan upbringing informed his attachment to local plants, animals, and everyday life.
Xu Beihong: A Chinese painter and art educator known for combining Chinese ink painting with Western techniques. Xu publicly supported Qi and helped bring his work to wider attention.
Flowers in Chinese painting: A major subject in Chinese painting, ranging from symbolic arrangements to close studies of plants. Qi painted familiar flowers with bold color and a vivid sense of growth.