1935 QI BAISHI VILLAGE LANDSCAPE PAINTING

拍品描述

Artist: Qi Baishi (1864-1957) VILLAGE LANDSCAPE This charming composition depicts a tranquil rural settlement nestled beneath groves of trees, with small white houses arranged across the foreground. Above the village, several sailing boats drift across an open expanse beneath softly colored mountains rendered in pale blue and warm earth tones. The landscape is reduced to a series of simplified shapes and washes, creating an atmosphere of serenity and childlike spontaneity.The artist employs only a few colors and highly abbreviated forms. The dark silhouettes of the trees contrast with the white walls of the houses, while the distant mountains and floating sails provide an airy sense of space. The composition demonstrates Qi Baishis belief that painting should capture the spirit and memory of a place rather than its literal appearance.The inscription records that the work was painted for a friend, reflecting the artist?s long tradition of creating paintings as personal gifts. Such works often convey feelings of nostalgia and affection, recalling the peaceful countryside of the artist?s native Hunan province.Unlike the dense and highly structured landscapes of earlier literati painters, Qi Baishis scenery possesses a modern simplicity. The reduced forms, broad washes, and open spaces create a visual language that is both traditional and remarkably contemporary. Through a few seemingly effortless brushstrokes, the artist transforms an ordinary village scene into a poetic vision of rural tranquility and human contentment. Ink and color on paper, Yisebiao mount, Vertical Axis Hanging Scroll Painting (Sight): 182cm H x 50cm W Dated: In The YiHai year (1935) Signed/Seal(s): Signed, with a seal PROVENANCE: Acquired from a prominent collector, representing an important private collections. The collections presented and offered up to auctions from Lot 25 through Lot 136; and additional related documents and or manuscripts from Lot 137 to Lot 228. Wei Tao-Ming (Wei Daoming), (October 28, 1899 - May 18, 1978) was a prominent Chinese diplomat, statesman, and senior official of the Republic of China. Born in Jiangxi Province, he studied law in the United States and became active in the Nationalist government under Chiang Kai-shek. During the Second World War, Wei served as the Republic of China's Ambassador to the United States from 1942 to 1946, playing an important role in strengthening Sino-American relations during the Allied war effort. He later held several key government positions, including Governor of Taiwan Province (1947-1949), Ambassador to Japan, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China from 1966 to 1971. Wei remained an influential figure in Chinese diplomacy throughout the mid-twentieth century and was closely involved in the Republic of China's international affairs during a period of major political transition in East Asia. ARTIST BIO: Qi Baishi (1864-1957) was one of the most celebrated Chinese painters of the twentieth century and is widely regarded as a master of modern Chinese ink painting. Born into a peasant family in Xiangtan, Hunan province, he was largely self-taught and initially worked as a carpenter before devoting himself entirely to painting, seal carving, and calligraphy.Drawing inspiration from nature and everyday life, Qi developed a highly personal artistic style characterized by bold brushwork, simplified forms, and vibrant color. He became especially renowned for his depictions of shrimp, crabs, insects, birds, flowers, vegetables, and other humble subjects, transforming ordinary objects into lively and poetic images.Qi Baishi advocated the principle that painting should balance resemblance and abstraction, famously stating that ?too much likeness becomes vulgar, while too little becomes deceptive.? His works combine the expressive spirit of literati painting with the vitality of folk art, creating an artistic language that is both sophisticated and accessible.In addition to his achievements as a painter, Qi was an accomplished calligrapher and seal carver. His seal designs and inscriptions often form an integral part of his compositions, contributing to their overall rhythm and character. During his lifetime he received widespread recognition, including honors from the Chinese government, and his works continue to command strong interest among collectors and museums worldwide.

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