Qi Baishi

Qi Baishi (1864-1957) was a Chinese painter and calligrapher who became one of the most celebrated artists in modern Chinese art. Born into a peasant family in Xiangtan, Hunan, he worked as a carpenter and wood carver before teaching himself painting. He didn't begin traveling and developing his mature style until his forties.

Qi Baishi is best known for his lively ink paintings of shrimp, crabs, birds, and flowers, rendered with a few confident brushstrokes that combine folk art directness with scholarly refinement. He was named a "People's Artist" by the Chinese government in 1953. In 2017, his Twelve Landscape Screens sold for $140.8 million, making it the most expensive Chinese artwork at auction.