Flower-and-Bird Finger Painting from an Album of Ten Leaves by Gao Qipei

Flower-and-Bird Finger Painting from an Album of Ten Leaves 1684

ink, color-on-paper

toned paper

handmade artwork painting

ink

fluid art

color-on-paper

coffee painting

underpainting

traditional art medium

china

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

pencil art

watercolor

Gao Qipei’s 1684 “Flower-and-Bird Finger Painting from an Album of Ten Leaves” is a stunning example of Chinese ink and wash painting, a style known for its delicate washes and expressive brushstrokes. The image features a single, white bird in flight amidst a blooming cherry branch, creating a sense of movement and ethereal beauty. The artist’s skillful use of light washes and subtle shading renders the delicate blossoms and the bird’s feathers with striking realism, while the minimal use of color emphasizes the natural beauty of the scene. This piece showcases Gao Qipei's masterful technique, and the image is a testament to his talent for depicting the delicate beauty of the natural world.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Gao Qipei was born in Jiangxi to a family of Manchu ethnicity. He was a successful official in southern China, but is best known today as a painter. He initially gained reputation painting landscapes and figures in traditional style. By age twenty, he became known as an eccentric who preferred using his fingers instead of a brush. Some earlier painters had also preferred finger painting, but Kao went further. He grew his fingernails long to make them more effect instruments, and used his entire hand in a highly individualized style.