Qi Baishi 1864 – 1957

Qi Baishi photo
Qi Baishi

Qi Baishi (January 1, 1864 – September 16, 1957) was an influential Chinese painter, noted for the whimsical, often playful style of his watercolor works.
Born to a peasant family from Xiangtan, Hunan, Qi became a carpenter at 14, and learned to paint by himself. After he turned 40, he traveled, visiting various scenic spots in China. After 1917 he settled in Beijing.
Some of Qi's major influences include the early Qing dynasty painter Bada Shanren (Zhu Da) and the Ming dynasty artist Xu Wei.
His pseudonyms include Qí Huáng (齊璜) and Qí Wèiqīng (齐渭清). The subjects of his paintings include almost everything, commonly animals, scenery, figures, toys, vegetables, and so on. He theorized that "paintings must be something between likeness and unlikeness, much like today's vulgarians, but not like to cheat popular people". In his later years, many of his works depict mice, shrimp or birds.
He was also good at seal carving and called himself "the rich man of three hundred stone seals" (三百石印富翁).
In 1953 he was elected president of the China Artists Association. He died in Beijing in 1957.

Carp 1884 Duck 1892 Bird in a tree 1895 Lotus pond 1908 Landscape 1909 Landscape 1909 A lone sail 1910 Cold Night 1910 Trees 1910
Carp 1884 Duck 1892 Bird in a tree 1895 Lotus pond 1908 Landscape 1909 Landscape 1909 A lone sail 1910 Cold Night 1910 Trees 1910
Wisteria 1910 Crabs 1925 Daffodils 1925 Large wind 1925 Homes 1926 Buffalo with calf 1927 A bird with a white neck 1928 The man with the comb 1929 A fisherman with a fishing rod 1930
Wisteria 1910 Crabs 1925 Daffodils 1925 Large wind 1925 Homes 1926 Buffalo with calf 1927 A bird with a white neck 1928 The man with the comb 1929 A fisherman with a fishing rod 1930
Abacus 1930 Lee Tae-Guay. Wayfarer with pumpkin 1930 Pumpkin 1930 Rake 1930 Seated Monk 1930 Sparrow on a banana leaf 1930 Sparrows in the sheaf 1930 Willows 1930 Fly a kite 1932
Abacus 1930 Lee Tae-Guay. Wayfarer with pumpkin 1930 Pumpkin 1930 Rake 1930 Seated Monk 1930 Sparrow on a banana leaf 1930 Sparrows in the sheaf 1930 Willows 1930 Fly a kite 1932
Rest after plowing 1933 Trees in the studio 1933 Cypresses 1934 Melon 1934 Persimmon and Moth 1934 Twilight Pines 1934 Butterfly and flowering plum 1935 Drunkard 1935 Lonely boat 1935
Rest after plowing 1933 Trees in the studio 1933 Cypresses 1934 Melon 1934 Persimmon and Moth 1934 Twilight Pines 1934 Butterfly and flowering plum 1935 Drunkard 1935 Lonely boat 1935
Preparation 1935 A lone traveler on a moonlit night 1938 Portrait of a Shih-tao 1938 A peasant with a rake 1940 Birds of Paradise 1940 Lotus and kingfisher 1940 Lychee fruit 1940 Whisk rice and grasshoppers 1942 Bundles of coins 1944
Preparation 1935 A lone traveler on a moonlit night 1938 Portrait of a Shih-tao 1938 A peasant with a rake 1940 Birds of Paradise 1940 Lotus and kingfisher 1940 Lychee fruit 1940 Whisk rice and grasshoppers 1942 Bundles of coins 1944
Impatiens and locusts 1944 Lamp 1944 Protein, squirrel and cherries 1944 The branch of wisteria 1944 The branch of wisteria 1944 Loquat 1945 Bindweed, dodder 1946 Flowers meyhua 1947 Fly on a platter 1947
Impatiens and locusts 1944 Lamp 1944 Protein, squirrel and cherries 1944 The branch of wisteria 1944 The branch of wisteria 1944 Loquat 1945 Bindweed, dodder 1946 Flowers meyhua 1947 Fly on a platter 1947
Grasshopper 1947 Impatiens and butterfly 1947 Chrysanthemum and loquat 1948 Chrysanthemum and loquat 1948 Frogs 1948 Orchids 1948 The chickens are happy sun 1949 Bindweed and grapes 1950 Eagle on Pine Tree 1950
Grasshopper 1947 Impatiens and butterfly 1947 Chrysanthe-
mum and loquat 1948		 Chrysanthe-
mum and loquat 1948		 Frogs 1948 Orchids 1948 The chickens are happy sun 1949 Bindweed and grapes 1950 Eagle on Pine Tree 1950
Likvidambra Taiwan and the cicada 1950 Praying Mantis on a branch 1950 Banana Leaf 1951 Bindweed, dodder 1951 Briar 1951 Green wine 1951 Wisteria flowers and meyhua 1951 Palm 1952 Peaches 1952
Likvidambra Taiwan and the cicada 1950 Praying Mantis on a branch 1950 Banana Leaf 1951 Bindweed, dodder 1951 Briar 1951 Green wine 1951 Wisteria flowers and meyhua 1951 Palm 1952 Peaches 1952
Boat 1953 Frogs and tadpoles 1953 Lotus and dragonfly 1953 Peony 1953 Sparrow on a branch 1953 Bindweed, dodder 1954 Briar 1954 Chrysanthemum 1954 Grapes 1954
Boat 1953 Frogs and tadpoles 1953 Lotus and dragonfly 1953 Peony 1953 Sparrow on a branch 1953 Bindweed, dodder 1954 Briar 1954 Chrysanthe-
mum 1954		 Grapes 1954
Lychee fruit 1955 Plowing in the rain 1955 Frog 1956 Frog 1956 Frog 1956 Bindweed, dodder 1956 Chicken 1956 Chicken 1956 Chicken 1956
Lychee fruit 1955 Plowing in the rain 1955 Frog 1956 Frog 1956 Frog 1956 Bindweed, dodder 1956 Chicken 1956 Chicken 1956 Chicken 1956
Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum Cicada Crab Crab Crab Duck Figure
Chrysanthe-
mum		 Chrysanthe-
mum		 Chrysanthe-
mum		 Cicada Crab Crab Crab Duck Figure
Figure Figure Fish Fish Fish Frog Insect and Leaf Insect and Leaf Landscape
Figure Figure Fish Fish Fish Frog Insect and
Leaf		 Insect and
Leaf		 Landscape
Landscape Landscape Landscape Landscape Landscape Long Melons Loquats 1956 Lotus Lotus
Landscape Landscape Landscape Landscape Landscape Long Melons Loquats 1956 Lotus Lotus
Lotus Lotus Lotus Magnolia 1956 Morning Glory Morning Glory Morning Glory Peach Peach
Lotus Lotus Lotus Magnolia 1956 Morning Glory Morning Glory Morning Glory Peach Peach
Peach Peach Peony Plum Shells 1956 Shrimp Plum Plum Shrimp
Peach Peach Peony Plum Shells 1956 Shrimp Plum Plum Shrimp
Shrimp Shrimp Shrimp Shrimp Shrimp Shrimp Shrimp Shrimp Steeling the Wine Vat
Shrimp Shrimp Shrimp Shrimp Shrimp Shrimp Shrimp Shrimp Steeling the Wine Vat
Vegetable Vegetable Vegetable Vine Vine Vine Grape Grape Grape
Vegetable Vegetable Vegetable Vine Vine Vine Grape Grape Grape