The artwork, entitled “Carp,” was created by the artist Qi Baishi in 1884. It belongs to the art movement known as ink and wash painting and falls under the genre of animal painting.
The artwork prominently features a carp depicted with masterful brush strokes characteristic of the ink and wash painting technique. The fish is centrally positioned and rendered in strikingly expressive lines and textures, capturing the fluidity and elegance of the aquatic creature. The monochromatic palette, typical of the genre, enhances the contrast and detailing in the portrayal of scales and fins. Accompanying Chinese calligraphy adds to the cultural essence and aesthetic, inscribed vertically along the left side of the composition, further embedding the piece within its traditional context.
