Water birds
Gao Qifeng was a native of Guangzhou in Guangdong province. Originally named Weng, Gao Qifeng was the younger brother of Gao Jianfu (1879-1951). They were taught how to paint from an early age. Gao Qifeng followed his brother and studied painting in Japan in 1907. He is also acclaimed as one of the "Three Masters of the Lingnan School".
Birds, animals, and flowers are recurring themes in Gao Qifeng’s works. This painting depicts two birds wandering by water. Their feathers and glossy eyes demonstrates the strengths of the artist's skills. There are two more birds hiding behind the plants, making it a rather unusual composition.
Details
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Title
Water birds
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Artist/maker
probably Gao Qifeng (1889 - 1933) -
Associated place
China (probable) (probable place of creation) -
Date
probably 1923 -
Material and technique
ink and colour on paper
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Material index
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Technique index
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Object type
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Dimensions
painting 122 x 37.5 cm (height x width)
along roller 62 cm (width) -
No. of items
1
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Credit line
Purchased with the assistance of the Eric North Bequest Fund, 1986.
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Museum location
Museum department
Eastern Art
Accession no.
EA1986.27
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Catalogue text
Gao Qifeng, born at Panyu, Guangdong, was the younger of Gao Jianfu. His career closely followed that of Jianfu and included study in Japan, where in 1907 he was a painting pupil of Tanaka Raisho, and involvement in the revolutionary movement. He too was engaged in publishing in Shanghai and educational work in Guangdong. In 1933 the government appointed him to the committee of the Sino-German Art Exhibition, (see Introduction) but he died in Shanghai shortly before the exhibition left.
In: Vainker, Shelagh, Chinese Paintings in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford (Oxford: Ashmolean Museum, 2000)
Further reading
Vainker, Shelagh, Chinese Paintings in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford (Oxford: Ashmolean Museum, 2000), no. 28 on p. 50, illus. p. 50 fig. 28
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