Friday, October 6, 2017

'Modern Ink-Wash Paintings' - Taiwan, 2017








Taiwan Modern Ink-Wash Paintings, full sheets and FDCs, posted on Sep 6th, 2017, from Taiwan to New York, USA, with first day postmarks. Thank you Qingqing for sending these amazing covers. The covers were posted from Shilin, a district of Taipei City, where the National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物院) is located. The stamps on the covers feature the following works from renowned modern Chinese painters:
  1. Gao Qifeng’s “Macaque” (NT$12)
  2. Huang Chun-pi’s “A Secluded Scene of Remote Mountains” (NT$15)
  3. Xu Beihong’s “Magpie” (NT$5)
  4. Qi Baishi’s “Pumpkin Vines of Abundant Growth” (NT$25)
  5. First Day Cover with day postmark
  6. First Day Cover with special postmark and day postmark
Due to political reasons, Gao Qifeng and Huang Chun-pi are not as well-known as Xu Beihong and Qi Baishi in Mainland China. Among the two well-known, Qi Baishi is almost synonymous with modern Chinese art, especially his ink-wash paintings of everyday subjects such as shrimp, vegetables, flowers, and insects. Xu Beihong was most famous for his horse paintings, as he combines western techniques with traditional oriental philosophy. Works of them are highly sought after by collectors and often fetch astronomical prices at auctions.