QI BAISHI (1864-1957)
Loquats, 1951
Ink and color on paper, mounted for framing, signed Xingtang Laowu Azhi, dated to the artist's eighty-seventh year (1951), with two artist's seals Qi Da and Juan ye yu min junqi qu.

44 x 18 1/2in (111.5 x 47cm)
Footnotes:
齊白石 枇杷 色設紙本 立軸

款識：星塘老屋後人阿芝【】小名也年八十七嵗矣
鈐印：齊白石、倦也欲眠君且去

In this scroll, Qi Baishi's depiction of clustered bright yellow loquat fruit overflowing the wicker basket is an auspicious image. Due to the long fruiting period of the loquat tree, the image is symbolic of rewards achieved through effort. In this painting the oversupply, with an extra branch of fruit resting beside the basket, reiterates a message of abundance.

Here the golden yellow of the fruit contrasts with the black ink of the artist's inscription, as well as the leaves, branches and basket that complete the composition. Whereas the ink has a variety of tones due to the dilution of ink and speed of application with the brush, the yellow of the fruit is layered, even, and opaque. A 'boneless' grasshopper—deftly painted and revealing the artist's study of the insect world—aminates the composition with its long, energetic antenna playfully mimicking the arching branches below.

Inscribed at the age of eighty-seven years, the painting was created in 1951. Although advanced in years, Qi Baishi's brushwork was still strong and steady and his compositions fresh and creative.
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