Fish

Gao Qipei

Ink on paper

Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields

A school of tiny fry swirls in a dark cloud at the top of this evocative hanging scroll, while four larger fish glide diagonally downward below them in loose, atmospheric ink washes. Gao Qipei, a Qing dynasty painter celebrated for his unconventional finger painting technique, replaced the traditional brush with his fingers and nails to create these spontaneous, blurred contours that capture the fluid movement of water and fish. The composition's empty, misty ground evokes the vastness of a pond or river, letting the subjects seem to float in indeterminate space. This piece brings a quiet, meditative energy well suited to contemplative display, rewarding close viewing with its painterly texture and painterly wit.