Product: Likeness and Unlikeness -Selected Paintings of Qi Baishi
By Qi Baishi (Author), Caiwei Ouyang (Translator)
Publisher: Foreign Language Press, Beijing, 1989
ISBN: 7119000454 9787119000459

Qi Baishi (1864-1957), born in Xiangtan County, Hunan Province, was a great master of Chinese art. he devoted his life to painting and left an important body of works to posterity. He inherited both traditional Chinese freehand brushwork and folk art techniques and gradually fused and assimilated them. Thanks to penetrating observation and consistent exploring, he blended and refined his techniques of painting and achieved a unique artistic style. His painting enjoys an international reputation.

Likeness & Unlikeness - Selected Paintings of Qi Baishi covers representative works in the 74 years between 1883 and 1957. There are, in all, 150 paintings including landscapes, human figures, flowers, birds, insects and fish, most of them published for the first time.

Qi Baishi's paintings blend the methods of traditional Chinese freehand brushwork and folk painting. His special skill lay in rendering flowers, birds, insects and fish; he was determined to "portray thousands of insects and hundreds of birds". His works employ a novel and original artistic conception, concise structural composition, vigorous strokes and warm colors. "The marvel of a good painting lies between likeness and unlikeness.... If it is an exact likeness, it is catering to vulgar tastes, but no likeness is simply cheating."

Cai Ruohong, Vice-Chairman of the Chinese Artists' Association, contributes a preface in which he considers the paintings' characteristic style in relation to the aesthetics of Chinese art. Hu Tuo, a disciple of Qi Baishi, discusses technical aspects and shares his first-hand experience and knowledge, providing insight into the actual art process in his appreciation of the work. The album includes a detailed chronology of Qi Baishi's personal life and professional development, providing an overview as well as a historical and cultural context for Qi Baishi's artistic achievement.

Contents

"Open the Western Window"-A Preface
Plates
Seal Impressions
Painting Techniques and Appreciation
Chronology of Qi Baishi
List of Paintings

List of Paintings

1. The Carp 1883
2. Kite Flying 1897
3. Cock, Hen and Chicks 1900
4. Landscape 1910
5. Plum Blossoms 1917
6. Rushes and Frogs 1920
7. Landscape 1921
8. Grapes and Locust 1922
9. Braving the Wind and the Waves 1924
10. Chrysanthemums and Crabs 1924
11. Autumn Pumpkins 1924
12. Landscape 1924
13. Orchids 1925
14. Chestnut Tree 1926
15. Lotus Pond 1926
16. Shrimps 1927
17. Abacus 1927
18. Lichees 1929
19. Egrets in Autumn Water 1920s
20. Scratching the Back 1920s
21. Landscape 1920s
22. Narcissus 1920s
23. Rushes and Ducks 1920s
24. Chrysanthemums and Mynah 1920s
25. appreciating an Inkstone 1920s
26. Taro Leaves 1930
27. Crab 1932
28. Dragonfly and Begonias 1932
29. Squirrels and Grapes 1935
30. Sparrow on a Palm Tree 1936
31. Magnolias and Peonies 1937
32. Plantain Lilies and Banana Palm 1930s
33. Bean Pods, Insects and Amaranths 1930s
34. Arrowheads and Frogs 1930s
35. Loquats 1930s
36. Lotus Pond 1930s
37. Pine and Eagle 1930s
38. Chicks and Sparrow 1930s
39. Smartweed and Ink-Drawn Butterflies 1930s
40. Lotus Seedpods and Dragonfly 1930s
41. Kingfisher and Shrimps 1930s
42. Lotus Leaves and a Pair of Ducks 1930s
43. Banana Palm and Quails 1930s
44. Firewood Rake 1930s
45. Plum Blossoms 1930s
46. Immortal Li with His Iron Walking Stick 1930s
47. Chrysanthemums 1930s
48. Withered Lotus Leaves 1930s
49. Lotus Leaves and Little Fish 1930s
50. Cockscomb 1930s
51. Garden Balsam 1930s
52. Chicks Under a Palm Tree 1930s
53. Magnolias 1930s
54. Ducks in Monochrome 1930s
55. Dragonfly and Lotus 1930s
56. Landscape 1930s
57. Taro Leaves and Crickets 1930s
58. Morning Glories and Insects 1930s
59. Lotus Flowers, Dragonflies and a Pair of Frogs 1930s
60. Tallow Tree and Mynahs 1930s
61. Lichees 1930s
62. Chicks and Young Ducks 1930s
63. Chrysanthemums, Cocks and Hens 1930s
64. Mother and Son 1930s
65. Turtledoves 1940
66. Chinese Cabbage 1940
67. Peaches 1940
68. Magic Fungus 1940
69. Grasshopper 1941
70. Dragonfly 1941
71. Mushrooms and Bamboo Shoots 1941
72. Grapes and Mouse 1941
73. Peaches 1941
74. Wisterias and Bees 1942
75. Cicada and Amaranths 1942
76. Liu Hai and Golden Toad 1944
77. Begonias and Mynah 1945
78. Capricorn Beetle 1945
79. Long-horned Beetle 1945
80. Preying Mantis 1945
81. Long-horned Grasshopper 1945
82. Moths 1945
83. Arhat 1945
84. Drunk with Wine 1945
85. Chrysanthemums and Dragonfly 1945
86. Pink Lotus 1946
87. Red-crowned Crane 1947
88. A Vase of Peonies, Writing Brushed and Inkslab 1947
89. Chrysanthemums and Mynah 1947
90. Weahter-beaten Lotus Leaves and Dragonfly 1947
91. Cabbage and Turnips 1947
92. Crabs 1947
93. Lotus and Mandarin Ducks 1947
94. Bamboos in Monochrome 1947
95. Lichees and Chicks 1947
96. Chrysanthemums 1947
97. Morning Glories and Locust 1947
98. Gourd 1948
99. Taro Leaves and Double Hens 1948
100. Maize and Insects 1948
101. Morning Glories 1948
102. Chrysanthemums Arranged Beside Wine Jars and Locust 1948
103. Plantain Lilies and Dragonfly 1948
104. Shrimps 1948
105. Linden Leaves and Insects 1940s
106. Taro Leaves and Frog 1940s
107. Autumn Pond 1940s
108. Lichees and Locust 1940s
109. Magnolia Flowers in Earthen Vase 1940s
110. Partridge and Smartweed 1940s
111. Peach Blossoms and Peaches 1940s
112. Millet and Preying Mantis 1940s
113. Paradise Flycatcher and Peony 1940s
114. Wisterias and Bees 1940s
115. Chrysanthemums and Locust 1949
116. Buffalo 1949
117. Begonias 1949
118. Shrimps 1949
119. Eagle 1950
120. Peaches 1950
121. Red-crowned Crane 1950
122. A Pair of Doves 1951
123. Chicks 1951
124. Bees 1951
125. A Vase of Plum Blossoms 1951
126. Tadpoles 1951
127. Frogs 1951
128. Cherries 1951
129. Plum Blossoms in Snow 1951
130. Peace Doves 1952
131. Morning Glories 1952
132. Farming 1952
133. Winter Plum and Mynah 1953
134. Orchids and Sparrows 1953
135. Wisterias 1953
136. Peaches 1953
137. Tilting Toy 1953
138. Wisterias and Bee 1954
139. Plum Blossoms and Magpie 1954
140. Morning Glories 1955
141. Evergreen 1955
142. Amaranths 1955
143. Cherries 1956
144. Towel Gourds 1956
145. Hibiscus and Duck 1956
146. Camellia 1956
147. Gourds 1956
148. Peonies 1956
149. Turnips and Bean Pods 1957
150. Peonies 1957