Lot 46. Qi Baishi (1863-1957), Crabes. Encre sur papier. Peinture en rouleau. Dédicacé à "Monsieur Tai'an", signé par l'artiste et daté de l'année dinghai (1947), avec deux cachets de l'artiste; 33.5 x 102 cm. Estimate EUR 40,000 - EUR 60,000 (USD 44,851 - USD 67,276). Price realised EUR 134,500 (USD 150,192) © Christie's Images Ltd 2017

QI BAISHI (1863-1957), CRABS, INK ON PAPER, (13 ¼ x 40 1/8 in.)

Provenance: Collection of Rolf Alfred Stein (1911-1999), acquired directly from the artist in Beijing in 1947 and thence by descent in the family.

Note: Qi Baishi was a master in capturing the liveliness of small things in his xieyi-styled ink paintings. Crabs were a subject he painted often and knew well. The animals are rendered beautifully with lightness and simplicity that offered abstraction but enough realism to suggest the pleasures nature can offer.