Shitao Producing a Painting

CHINA

This picture of Shitao was painted by Qi Baishi. Shitao, whose birth name was Zhu Ruoji, was born in Guilin, Guangxi. He became a monk at the age of five, receiving the Dharma name Yuanji and the personal name Shitao. He became well known as a skilled painter of flowers, people, and landscapes. Together with Hongren, Shixi, and Bada Shanren, he is known as one of the Four Eminent Monks of the late Ming (1368–1644) and early Qing (1644–1911) dynasties.
In the picture, Shitao holds a brush and leans over a desk, preparing to paint. A stone ink-holder, a water bowl, and a small plate rest on the desk. The painting style is simple, with colors applied sparingly. The inscription on the left identifies the subject and the painter. The red seal of Elder Bai, one of Qi Baishi’s aliases, is stamped below.