Qi Paintings (Set 2 Volumes) (Hardcover)

A full-color, two-volume collection of the work of Qi Baishi (1864-1957), an influential Chinese painter. Born to a peasant family from Xiangtan, Hunan, Qi became a carpenter at 14, and learned to paint by himself. After he turned 40, he traveled, visiting various scenic spots in China. After 1917 he settled in Beijing. He is perhaps the most noted for the whimsical, often playful style of his watercolor works. Some of Qi's major influences include the early Qing dynasty painter Bada Shanren (Zhu Da) and the Ming dynasty artist Xu Wei. In 1953 he was elected president of the China Artists Association. Note that this is a heavy and oversized set of books, so additional postage will be required for international or priority orders.