Qi Baishi (1864- 1957), formerly known as Chunzhi, was named Lanting. Later, it was renamed Huang and the word was changed to near life. He was named Baishi, Baishishan Weng and Lithography Rich Man, etc. He is from Xiangtan, Hunan. He is a famous master of painting in China in modern times and a famous scholar in history. Qi Baishi used to be a carpenter, and later made a living by selling paintings. 57 years later, he moved to Beijing.
Qi Baishi is good at painting flowers and birds, insects and fish, figures and landscapes. His colors are strong and bright, his modeling is simple and vivid, his pen and ink are moist, and his artistic conception is vivid and simple. The shrimps, crabs, fish and insects painted are full of interest. His seal cutting is unique, and his calligraphy specializes in seal cutting, taking the method of Qin and Han Dynasties, writing books and writing poems for the leisure of Gu Zhuo. Former Chairman of China Artists Association and Honorary Professor of Central Academy of Fine Arts.
Qi Baishi's paintings are unpretentious and have romantic childlike features. Its painting style is fresh and distinct, and poetry, painting and printing are integrated into one. His paintings are concise and clear, with both form and spirit.
Rich life accumulation is the motive force of Qi Baishi's painting art, and provides a tireless source for it. The combination of strong local flavor, simple peasant consciousness and naive and romantic childlike innocence constitutes the theme style of Qi Baishi's paintings.
The strong contrast of ink colors, bright and warm colors, naive brushwork and simple modeling are the unique artistic language and visual form of Qi Baishi's paintings. Yu said, "The earth has endowed Qi Baishi with the highest artistic achievement, and Qi Baishi's character is closely related to' natural interest', as simple as a farmer and as naive as a child."