Kitten with Butterfly 1944

"Kitten with Butterfly," a 1944 ink painting by Xu Beihong, showcases the artist's mastery of brushwork and traditional Chinese ink painting techniques. The minimalist composition, with a black and white kitten gazing at a delicate butterfly in flight, evokes a sense of quiet observation and the fleeting nature of beauty. Xu Beihong, a prominent Chinese painter and art educator, is known for his realist style and depictions of animals. The painting exemplifies the artist's ability to capture the essence of both the subject and the moment with expressive brushstrokes and a subtle use of ink washes.