QI BAISHI (1863-1957)

Qi Baishi entitled the present painting Mid-Autumn Festival and adorned the composition with lotus roots, tea ware, and pastries. A closer look shows that the three pastries bear unusual imprinted patterns of poisonous creatures. These pastries are called “Five Poisonous Cakes” and are traditional Chinese festival pastries with imprints of five poisonous creatures (snake, centipede, scorpion, spider, toad). Consuming them was believed to enhance resistance and ward off pests and disasters. (Different versions of this painting can be found in the Complete Works of Qi Baishi, Vol. 5, pl. 315 and pl. 310 from two different collections.)