Crevettes

Painted when Qi Baishi was 88 years old, the present work depicts four animated shrimps, each rendered with striking sensitivity and individual character. Qi masterfully manipulates ink tones to suggest the play of light on their translucent bodies and the fluidity of their underwater motion. With bold vertical strokes in rich ink for the eyes, horizontal touches for the heads, and dabs of darker ink added before the lighter tones dry, he achieves a soft diffusion that imbues the composition with vitality and depth. The shrimp bodies are formed with loose, washed ink strokes, imparting a crystalline, almost diaphanous quality. Composed in an elegant S-shaped configuration, the group of shrimps appear to dart and frolic in unison, their legs delicately varied in length and articulation, while fine, flexible lines evoke the spring-like tension of their whiskers. Through a dynamic synthesis of brushwork and ink play, Qi conjures a vivid scene of aquatic life, infused with spirited energy and poetic rhythm.