Artist: Qi Baishi (1864-1957) This dramatic composition portrays an eagle perched upon a rugged pine branch amid towering rocks. Executed almost entirely in monochrome ink, the work demonstrates the artist’s mastery of expressive brushwork and his ability to convey both physical form and spiritual presence through a highly abbreviated visual language. The inscription includes the title Eagle Picture. In Chinese artistic tradition, the eagle symbolizes courage, strength, vision, and heroic spirit, while the pine tree represents endurance, steadfastness, and longevity. Together, the eagle and pine form an auspicious subject expressing resilience, integrity, and noble character. The bird is rendered with bold washes of dark ink contrasted against the white paper, giving the eagle a commanding presence. Its alert gaze and upright posture suggest vigilance and determination. The surrounding pine branches are described through rapid, calligraphic lines, while the rocky forms are built with sweeping brushstrokes that create a sense of monumentality and movement. Unlike the delicate realism of traditional bird-and-flower painting, Qi Baishi reduces the forms to their essential character. The composition relies upon the energy of the brush rather than detailed description, demonstrating the artist’s celebrated principle that painting should balance resemblance and abstraction. This work belongs to the artist’s mature period, when his brushwork became increasingly direct and expressive. Through a limited palette of black ink and the dynamic interaction of line, wash, and empty space, Qi Baishi creates a composition of remarkable power, transforming a traditional subject into an image that conveys both natural vitality and symbolic meaning. Ink and color on paper, Yisebiao mount, Vertical Axis Painting (Sight): 137cm H x 68cm W Signed/Seal(s): Signed, with three seals 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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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.
Baishi Qi

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