Qi Baishi: Inspiration in Ink


Qi Baishi, Peaches (detail), 20th century. Ink and color on paper. Lent from the Beijing Fine Art Academy Collection.


Qi Baishi, Peaches (detail), 20th century. Ink and color on paper. Lent from the Beijing Fine Art Academy Collection.
Living in a time of civil and political turmoil, Qi Baishi (1864–1957) was renowned for his modernization of Chinese ink painting. Conveying rural sentiments with bold landscapes, lifelike animals and plants, and lively and amusing figures, Qi’s paintings of mundane objects and everyday life broke social and cultural barriers. His innovative experiments included the juxtaposition of vibrant colors against rich ink tones, a pronounced economy of form and composition, and vivid representations with revealing inscriptions. He also revitalized Chinese painting with expressive brushwork based on his calligraphic practice and seal carving. Qi is credited with transforming the traditional brush art of China’s educated elite into an expressionistic and abstract form that speaks clearly to the modern era.
Marking the 160th anniversary of Qi’s birth, this exhibition features nearly 40 works from the artist—almost all on loan from the Beijing Fine Art Academy—and offers a rare opportunity to examine the breadth of his artistic vision and inspiration.
- Asian Paintings Gallery (Gallery 178)
Sponsors
Generous support is provided by the Tan Family Education Foundation.
Additional support is provided by the Joel Alvord and Lisa Schmid Alvord Fund, the Rodger and Dawn Nordblom Fund for Chinese Paintings in Honor of Marjorie C. Nordblom, and the June N. and John C. Robinson Fund for Chinese Paintings in Honor of Marjorie C. Nordblom.
This exhibition is presented in partnership with the Beijing Fine Art Academy and Chinese International Exhibition Agency.