Likvidambra Taiwan and the cicada 1950

Qi Baishi made this watercolour, Likvidambra Taiwan and the cicada, sometime in the 20th century, with ink and colour on paper, and look how immediate it feels. I think it’s helpful to imagine Qi Baishi making this painting, trying to conjure the movement of the leaves. See how he applied washes of watery pink to define the leaves with translucent petals. These contrast with the more solid forms of the insects, cicada and mantis. The mantis is particularly engaging, with its delicate, spindly legs balanced on the fragile leaf. Then notice how the ink bleeds in places, creating soft edges, or sharp lines. Look at the dark branch. The black ink is a stark contrast to the delicacy of the leaves and insects, and gives the whole composition a firm structure, but it’s not too controlled. In some ways, this reminds me of Cy Twombly, with his gestural marks and lyrical use of line. Both artists share a love of nature and a willingness to embrace chance. It’s this sense of freedom and spontaneity that makes the painting so engaging, that leaves things open to multiple interpretations, or none at all.