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Description

‘PLUM BLOSSOMS’, BY QI BAISHI (1864-1957), DATED 1923

‘PLUM BLOSSOMS’, BY QI BAISHI (1864-1957), DATED 1923 China. Ink on paper, with a Japanese silk brocade mounting. Exquisitely painted with a flowering plum tree in the winter, the branches and twigs mostly upright with few hanging down, the blossoms and buds neatly detailed, the thicker branches executed with bold, dynamic brushstrokes. Inscriptions: Lower right, signed ‘Baishi weng’ (old man Baishi), inscribed ‘The winter plum blossoms and the rest of the year, a thousand-year friendship with the rest of the year’, and dated ‘in the Winter of the Year of Guihai’ (corresponding to 1923). The last character (託) indicates that this work was painted by Qi Baishi in order to entrust it to the recipient. Provenance: Kono Shuson, Japan, acquired directly from the artist. A private collection, acquired from the above, and thence by descent. The back with an old Japanese paper label from Kono Shuson, stamped and inscribed ‘Dai yonhyaku-ju-roku-go, Sai Hakuseki sensei, Kono Shuson sei’ (Number 416, Painting of Winter Plum Blossoms by Master Qi Baishi, compounded by Kono Shuson). Two further paper labels, each inscribed ‘7541’. Kono Shuson (1890-1987) was a Japanese painter and a pivotal figure in promoting the Nanga (Chinese literati) school of paintings in Japan. With Tomioka Tessai (1836-1924) as a consultant, he founded the Nihon Nanga-in (Japan Literati Painting Academy) and visited China frequently, including his first documented visit in 1923, the year the present work was painted. This is when he probably met Qi Baishi for the very first time, shortly after Qi’s initial exhibition in Japan (see lot essay below). He then began to import Qi Baishi’s works to Japan, together with the paintings of other contemporary Chinese artists, selling them at the Takashimaya Department Store and other notable places. He always mounted such paintings on Japanese kakejiku scrolls. For a work bearing a similar label from Kono Shuson, see for example Bonhams Hong Kong, 2 March 2022, lot 29, by Zhang Daqian (1899-1983), Scholar under Willow Tree. Condition: Good condition with some wear, soiling, and few minor abrasions. Dimensions: Image size 106.5 x 56 cm, Size incl. mounting 144 x 68 cm Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Beijing Council International Auctions, 4 December 2013, lot 984 Price: CNY 632,500 or approx. EUR 110,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: Qi Baishi, The ink plum blossom (1923) Expert remark: Compare the related manner of painting with mostly upright branches and using only ink. Note that the work was painted in the same year (1923) as the present lot. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Poly International, Beijing, 17 December 2017, lot 1930 Price: CNY 862,500 or approx. EUR 142,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: Qi Baishi, Plum blossom (1924) Expert remark: Compare the related manner of painting, also using only ink, but with more hanging branches than the present lot. Note that the work was painted one year later (1924) than the present lot. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 9 December 2020, lot 48 Price: USD 18,750 or approx. EUR 20,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: Qi Baishi (with signature of, 1863-1957), Plum Blossoms Expert remark: Note the much smaller size (26.5 x 19 cm) of this work and the low estimate of only USD 300-600, which was clearly overruled by the market, with bidding eventually ending at USD 18,750. Due to length restriction on Drouot this entry is shortened. For full description please visit www.zacke.at.

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‘PLUM BLOSSOMS’, BY QI BAISHI (1864-1957), DATED 1923

Estimate 10 000 - 20 000 EUR
Starting price 10 000 EUR

* Not including buyer’s premium.
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For sale on Friday 28 Jun : 11:00 (CEST)
vienna, Austria
Galerie Zacke
+4315320452
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