Artist: Seal translates as "Shi Di" (Chinese School)
Title: "Lotus and Bird"
Medium: Ink and colour on paper
Edition: Original, hand-painted, signed & sealed
Artwork Dimensions: 49cm x 98cm (19.5" x 39")
Frame Dimensions: 63cm x 111cm (25" x 44")
Condition: Image: Good. Frame: Good. see photos
About the Artwork
This traditional Chinese ink-and-wash painting depicts a vibrant pink lotus blossom rising from dark, sweeping leaves, with a small bird perched delicately on a stem. The artist combines expressive brushwork with subtle colour washes to create a sense of misty atmosphere and quiet elegance. The contrast between the deep, inky leaves and the luminous pink petals gives the composition a strong visual focus and a feeling of purity and resilience, qualities long associated with the lotus in Chinese culture.
Along the left side of the painting runs a vertical inscription, including a reference to the Year of the Tiger and the artist’s signature, accompanied by red seals. These elements affirm the work’s traditional roots and link it to the long lineage of Chinese literati painting, where poetry, calligraphy, and image are woven together. Framed and glazed, this piece offers both decorative impact and a timeless, contemplative subject.
About the Artist
Shi Di (诗迪) is a Chinese brush painter working in the traditional ink-and-wash style, associated with the broader Chinese School of the mid- to late-20th century. Artists of this period often trained in classical techniques while embracing a slightly freer, more colourful approach influenced by the Lingnan and Jiangnan schools. Their works were created both for domestic collectors and for export, bringing traditional subjects such as lotus flowers, birds, and landscapes to an international audience.
Paintings like this one reflect a balance between disciplined brush control and expressive spontaneity. The use of seals, poetic inscriptions, and symbolic motifs places Shi Di firmly within the literati tradition, while the bold colour contrasts and decorative strength make the work highly suitable for contemporary interiors.
