Dai Xi

CHINA, Zhejiang, Hangzhou; Qing dynasty

Dai Xi was a poet, calligrapher, and painter from Qiantang (present day Hangzhou, Zhejiang). He became an Imperial Scholar after passing the imperial examination in 1832, and later served the Hanlin Academy. His written works include Poem Collection of Xi Kuzhai and Record of Inscription on Paintings.
Dai specialized in the painting of landscapes, studying under Wang Nian and Wang Yuanqi in his early years. Later, he emulated the painting styles of artists from the Song (960–1279) and Yuan (1271–1368) dynasties. His works appear similar to that of Tang Yifen, and thus together they were referred to as Tang Dai. Dai was also paired up in reputation with Zhang Zhiwan and called Southern Dai, Northern Zhang.
His painting entitled Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva in the Bamboo Forest is a prime example of his figurative works with elements of nature. Other extant works include Mountains in the Clouds, kept at the Nanjing Museum in Jiangsu; Pine Trees, at the Capital Museum in Beijing; and Green Landscape Among Clouds, at the Qingdao Museum in Shandong.