Shrimp 

Qi Baishi painted these shrimp in ink on paper at some point during his long career. Baishi lived through extraordinary times in China and he helped shape the art institutions that emerged in the twentieth century. The brushwork here seems effortless, yet look closely and you will see the deftness of touch that captures the translucent quality of these small crustaceans. Baishi drew on the traditions of Chinese ink painting, but he modernized the form through his focus on everyday subjects. It's no accident that these creatures are depicted with such care. As China opened up to the world, Chinese artists had to find new ways of representing their culture. The natural world became a potent symbol of national identity. If you want to understand this work fully, explore the history of Chinese painting and the social changes that shaped Baishi's world. The politics of imagery are always worth exploring.