Qi Baishi and other Chinese masters dominate the auction scene

‘A Long Life, a Peaceful World’ (1946), a work of art by renowned Chinese modern master Qi Baishi, fetched $65 million at the recent China Guardian Auctions in Beijing. It, in the process, set a new record for Chinese art scene.

The work of art was presented by the late artist (he died in 1957) as a gift to Chiang Kai-shek, in 1946. According to records, Qi, in a neat gesture of diplomacy, created another work four years later, for Mao Zedong.

The Qi Baishi sale is a major highlight of the Guardian Auctions spring season so far, one of China’s oldest auction houses. Over the last few years, Chinese collectors have increasingly been making their presence felt on international art auction scene. They are dominant in sales around the world, especially that of works by the famous Chinese artists.

As a result, the value of works by several modern masters such as Qi Baishi, Zhang Daqian, Fu Baoshi and Xu Beihong has skyrocketed. These modern artists’ work is apparently in the traditional Chinese style. Last year, they occupied four of the top ten slots in global rankings in terms of auction revenue, as indicated by Artprice.

In the agency’s 2010 list Qi Baoshi trumped Andy Warhol. The former came in at second spot, edging Andy Warhol to third place. Given the latter's recent stupendous streak at the global auction block, it’s yet to be seen whether Qi Baoshi will manage to pull off a similar trick this year as well.

The earlier record for a Chinese painting at any auction worldwide was set at Beijing's Hanhai auction house, last year. This was when ‘Ba People Fetching Water’ (1937) by Xu Beihong sold for $25.8 million. Baishi's work now takes third position overall in the record standings of Chinese art works at auction.

The first place is currently held by the Qianlong vase sold for $85.9 million at Bainbridges in the UK last November, whereas second place is owned by Song Dynasty master Huang Tingjian’s calligraphy that fetched $64 million last June at Poly Auctions in Beijing.