In an obscure market corner in Beijing, an unknown painting is about to be revealed. It is a painting depicting cabbage, which looks ordinary, but hides a story that is out of the ordinary. The owner of the painting is Qi Baishi in his later years, a well-known master in the Chinese painting world. Despite his fame, he lived an unusually simple life and maintained an indifferent attitude towards fame and fortune.
On this day, Qi Baishi walked into the market with his hand-painted cabbage painting, and had an unusual idea in his heart - to exchange this painting for a basket of real cabbage. In his opinion, the artistic value of this painting is far more than an ordinary basket of cabbage, and such an exchange should be a good business for the vegetable seller.
However, when he proposed the idea to a cabbage seller, he received an unexpected answer: "You think beautifully." This sentence is not just a rejection of the exchange offer, but more like a satire on Qi Shiraishi's philosophy of life in his later years.
This simple refusal did not cause a conflict on the scene, but it stirred up waves in Qi Baishi's heart. He realized that even the works of the masters of Chinese painting could be worthless in the eyes of those who did not understand art.
1. The later life of a great painter
In his later years, Qi Baishi was already a master of Chinese painting. He lived a simple life, and despite his fame, he still maintained an indifferent attitude towards fame and fortune. In addition to painting, Qi Baishi's daily life also includes tea tasting and exchanging art with old friends. His works, especially depictions of the natural world, are vivid and colorful.
Deep in an alley in Beijing, Qi Baishi's studio stands quietly. Pushing open the ancient wooden door, a strong scent of ink comes to the face, as if telling how the owner here uses the pen as the sword and the ink as the soul, depicting a breathtaking work of art.
Although he is old, Qi Baishi's eyes are still bright, revealing his love for life and dedication to art. The paintbrush in his hand flows freely around his fingertips, like a dancer dancing on stage. That day, he was drawing a picture of cabbage, the green gradient of the cabbage leaves, revealing a freshness, as if he could smell the fragrance of cabbage.
Qi Baishi's cabbage is not only a vegetable, but also a portrayal of life. Every cabbage leaf seems to tell the ups and downs of life, and every stroke contains his understanding and perception of life. His cabbage picture is like a beautiful poem, which makes people feel the beauty of life while appreciating it.
In the afternoon, an old friend came to visit. The two sat in the courtyard, brewed a pot of fragrant tea, and chatted about trivial matters of life. Qi Baishi mentioned the cabbage painting he was creating, and his old friends were amazed, saying that it was "unique and vivid".
Qi Baishi smiled and nodded, he looked at the paintbrush in his hand, his heart was full of satisfaction and joy. He knew that this was the life he wanted, to be with art, to be with his friends, to enjoy every moment of life.
2. An unusual exchange
One day, Qi Baishi saw a basket of fresh cabbage in the market. Due to the shortage of money, he came up with an idea: to exchange one of his paintings of cabbage for this basket of real cabbage. Qi Baishi was convinced that his work was worth more than a basket of vegetables, and that such an exchange should be a good deal for the vegetable seller.
In the bustling market, Qi Baishi's eyes were attracted by a basket of watery cabbage. He approached the stall and took a closer look at the cabbage, their green leaves shining in the sunlight, as vibrant as his cabbage. An idea welled up in his mind that he wanted to exchange his paintings for these cabbages.
Qi Baishi returned home and picked out a cabbage painting from his pile of works. The painting depicts a cabbage tree with cascading leaves and dripping green, full of life. He believes that the artistic value and spiritual connotation of this painting are far more than a basket of cabbage.
The next day, Qi Baishi came to the market again with his paintings. He went straight to the stall selling cabbage and said to the stall owner, "Boss, I have a painting of cabbage here, and I want to exchange it for a basket of cabbage for you." ”
The vegetable seller looked at Qi Baishi in surprise, not quite understanding the old man's intentions. He took the painting and looked at it carefully. The cabbage in the painting is so lifelike that it seems to be within reach, which makes people admire.
3. The refusal of the vegetable sellers
The confusion of the greengrocer is obvious. He looked around, watching the other customers trade in cash, and then looked at the painting in Qi Baishi's hand, looking a little overwhelmed. Qi Baishi sensed the vegetable seller's hesitation, so he patiently explained: "I put my heart and soul into creating this painting, although it cannot be eaten as a meal, but its artistic value is by no means ordinary. ”
The greengrocer shook his head and replied, "I'm a vegetable seller and don't understand your art." What I need is cabbage that I can sell, and paintings that can't be exchanged for money are useless to me. ”
Qi Baishi smiled and nodded, understanding the vegetable seller's position. He explains: "Although art cannot be eaten, it can bring spiritual satisfaction and enjoyment. A good painting can spark people's emotions and imagination and can even influence their values and lifestyle. ”
The vegetable seller was silent for a moment after hearing this, and he seemed to be thinking about Qi Baishi's words. He admits that although he has been selling vegetables for many years, he has never thought about the value of art. He asked Qi Baishi, "So, how much can your paintings sell?"
Qi Baishi replied: "It depends on personal preferences and needs. Some people are willing to pay a high price for a painting, while others consider it worthless. But in any case, the value of a painting lies not only in the money it can be exchanged for, but also in the artistic charm and cultural connotation it contains. ”
Fourth, the embarrassment after revealing the identity
Qi Baishi had to reveal his identity, hoping that this would convince the vegetable seller. But the vegetable seller's reply was unexpected: "You are Mr. Qi Baishi? Even so, I can't accept your paintings." I'm sorry, I only sell vegetables. Qi Baishi's words made Qi Baishi feel extremely embarrassed, but at the same time, he also expressed respect for the vegetable seller's persistence.
Faced with the vegetable seller's resolute answer, Qi Baishi felt an unprecedented predicament. He never imagined that his fame and artistic achievements would become so weak on such an occasion. He whispered, "I understand your position and thank you for your candor. ”
The vegetable seller looked at Qi Baishi, with a hint of respect and apology in his eyes, and replied: "Mr. Qi, I know that you are a great artist, but for me, the practical problems of life are more important. ”
At this moment, Qi Baishi deeply realized the boundary between art and life. He understands that while art has immeasurable value on some levels, in everyday life, it does not solve all problems. He put away the painting and left the market with a smile.
Back home, Qi Baishi sat at the drawing table and pondered for a long time. He began to reflect on the relationship between art and life, and how to make his artworks closer to the lives of ordinary people. He thought that art should be a mirror image of life, reflecting the most real state of life, not just a symbol of superiority.
In the days that followed, Qi Baishi's paintings began to show more of a breath of life. Instead of just depicting natural landscapes or still lifes, he began to touch on the daily lives of ordinary people, such as the fireworks in the alleys of the city, the hard work of farmers, and the life of fishermen at sea. These works are more down-to-earth and more likely to resonate with ordinary people.
5. Unexpected revelations
Although the exchange was unsuccessful, this experience brought profound enlightenment to Qi Baishi. He realized that the value of art is not known to everyone, but whether it can touch people's hearts. Since then, he has focused more on integrating the truth and beauty of life into his paintings, so as to share his art world with more people.
This experience made Qi Baishi deeply realize that art is not only for the artist's own expression, but more importantly, for the emotional resonance with the audience. He began to change his approach, incorporating more elements of everyday life and human details into his paintings. His canvases are no longer only delicate flowers, birds, fish and insects, but also ordinary people in the streets and alleys, farmers at work, and busy scenes in the market.
In this way, Qi Baishi's work began to reach a wider group of people. His paintings are no longer just treasures in the art world, but have become decorations in ordinary people's homes, and even a part of their daily lives. This change made his art more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and also made his name spread among the common people.
Qi Baishi's paintings during this period not only show his exquisite skills, but more importantly, show his deep understanding of life and warm care for human nature. His paintings have a yearning for a better life, a cherishing of ordinary daily life, and a delicate depiction of the world. Through his paintings, he tries to convey a simple but profound truth: art comes from life and serves life.
Qi Baishi's artistic concept has gradually been recognized and accepted by people. His works are loved by more people because of their authenticity and proximity to the people. His exhibitions have attracted people from all walks of life, from intellectuals to ordinary people, from art lovers to passers-by, and people can find resonance in his work.
In addition, Qi Baishi also began to pay attention to the fact that the dissemination of art is not limited to the paintings themselves, but can also be carried out in other ways. He began to participate in public art projects, creating murals and decorative paintings for schools, parks and other public places, bringing art into more people's lives. His public artworks not only beautify the environment, but also stimulate people's awareness of beauty and interest in art.
This journey of artistic exploration in Qi Baishi's later years not only enriched his personal artistic career, but also had a profound impact on the entire art world. His works and ideas inspired many later artists, causing them to begin to pay more attention to life itself and to incorporate this attention into their own artistic creations.
[1] Hu Manran.A brief analysis of Qi Baishi's flower and bird painting creation in the early days of the founding of New China[J].Painting and Calligraphy World,2023(5):77-78