The Three Symbols of Autumn

The dry outlined chrysanthemum flowers made a strong contrast with the broad and moist begonia leaves, which are rendered in rich color. The veins were added while the broadly washed leaves were still wet. Red begonia flowers dotted in rich tones made a decorative pattern around the big clump of leaves. Stylistically, this painting is closely related to the work of Zhao Zhiqian, and Wu Changshuo. Qi Baishi painted the scroll twelve years after his successful sale exhibition in Japan and two years before the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese war and the resultant occupation of China, a period relatively peaceful and healthy in his life. The next year, according to his autobiography, Qi Baishi injured his leg and began to feel old.