Scale-Like Bridge and Willow in Smoke by Qi Baishi

Ink and color on paper
1O1.5x38.5cm
National Art Museum of China

Qi Baishi spent the majority of his life in Beijing. He did not paint many landscapes, and most were southern sceneries - this can be partly attributed to his nostalgia for his hometown in Hunan. But also, his brush and ink are more suitable to express the rain, clouds and plants of southern scenes. This picture is divided into two parts: below are willows in mist on both sides of the river above are the high and low hills after rain and big seal character inscriptions. There is nothing on the wide expanse of the river. A corner of the plate bridge stretches horizontally outside the painting; it seems to have no connection with the bank. Only the mist swept with light ink crossing horizontally in the willows on both banks provide a clue that the two banks are connected. The painter has rich imagination and uses an innovative treatment of willows in and outside the mist - the most exciting and brilliant part of this work.