The Paintings of Xugo and Qi Baishi Book

Little is known about the Buddhist monk Xugu (Hsu-ku, 1823-1896), a pioneer of the Shanghai school of Painting and one of the most individualistic painters in Chinese history. This volume presents and analyzes the sparse and often contradictory references to this enigmatic but important figure and offers a previously unpublished collection of his paintings with an in-depth analysis of their images, inscription, and seals. A sickly child from a poor farming, Qi Baishi (Ch'i Pai-shih, 1863-1957) began his career as a carpenter and wood carver and went on to carve seals and paint, eventually becoming one of the most important Chinese artists of the last century, a man hailed as "China's Picasso." Incorporating information from Qi Baishi's own autobiographical writings as well as numerous other sources, the author constructs a multilayered portrait.Read More