China, 20th century. Six Chinese prints on paper, designed by Qi Baishi. Depicted are a bird on a branch, blossoms, a dragonfly and lotus, a beetle and maple leaf, butterflies amidst blossoming branches, and cabbage with chilies. All with artist seals and calligraphy.

Condition: Overall good condition; minor creases, foxing and paper tape residue around the edges.
Provenance: Austrian private collection.

Dimensions: Largest sheet size 43.3 x 32 cm

Qi Baishi (1864-1957) is one of the world's most important artists of the 20th century and has received countless honors and awards like no other painter in the People's Republic of China. He began his career as a carpenter, though he taught himself to paint using a manual from the Qin dynasty period. His style, which Qi Baishi developed in the second half of his life, is characterized by a powerful, spontaneous brushstroke. He expanded his subject matter to insects, birds, figures, animals, vegetation, and landscapes, and began to incorporate rich color into his compositions, painting in an ever-freer style. His works are focused on the spiritual, ephemeral, and mystical qualities of the human condition. In 1953, he was elected president of the China Artists Association, and one year later he was elected to the National People's Congress.