Duck 1892

This painting of a duck was created by Qi Baishi, who was born in China in 1864, using traditional ink and brush on paper. Qi Baishi, born to a peasant family, had to teach himself how to paint because he couldn’t afford lessons. His skill in calligraphy and poetry, which he learned through self-study, is evident in the inscriptions that accompany the image. The materiality of the ink, its capacity for both deep black saturation and watery diffusion, gives the duck its presence. Note also the variations in brushstroke, from the sure, dark lines defining the duck’s back to the more suggestive strokes indicating the landscape. The apparent simplicity of the painting belies considerable technical expertise. Qi Baishi began his career as a carpenter, and later made a living selling his paintings. He challenged the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft, proving that technical skill and artistic vision are not mutually exclusive.