Hollyhock
Qiu Ti
1939
- YEAR:1939
- MEDIUM:Oil on canvas
- DIMENSIONS:38 x 29 cm
Introduction
Qiu Ti, one of the most radical and avant-garde female painters of China’s first generation of modern artists, a member of the Storm Society (Juelanshe), was also among the pioneers of Chinese oil painting. She absorbed and adapted Impressionist methods of observation, integrating elements of classical Chinese art into her oil paintings — creating works that were at once serene and lyrical, yet resistant to stagnation and conservatism. Hollyhock uses layered blocks of colour and lively lines to create a composition that is rustic yet fluid. The fusion of fresh and rich colour contrasts infuses the work with vibrant life and an elegant Chinese sensibility. Only about thirty of Qiu’s oil paintings are known to survive. This piece, created in 1939, was painted despite the hardships of wartime, reflecting her unwavering commitment to creation and her pursuit of a path toward revitalizing Chinese art.
