The painter Gao Qipei (1660-1734) was born in a northern province of China. He was a successful civil servant at the courts of Kangxi (1662-1722) and Yongzheng (1723-1735), both emperors of the Qing Dynasty. His official function allowed Gao enough time to develop himself as a painter. From the age of twenty he was looking for his own style. He found it by painting with his fingers instead of a brush, an idea that he had fallen into during a dream. With his fingertips or with his entire hand he applied brushstrokes; for lines he used a long nail. Initially Gao also worked with brushes, but he increasingly left them in the closet as he perfected his finger painting. His paintings stand out because of their spontaneity.
Discover more Old Masters in the following collections:
 Jacob Maris - Fishing boat
Jacob Maris - Fishing boat Almond blossom painting by Vincent van Gogh
Almond blossom painting by Vincent van Gogh The mill at Wijk bij Duurstede, Jacob Isaacksz. van Ruisdael
The mill at Wijk bij Duurstede, Jacob Isaacksz. van Ruisdael The School of Athens, Raphael
The School of Athens, Raphael Italian landscape with pine trees, Hendrik Voogd
Italian landscape with pine trees, Hendrik Voogd Vincent van Gogh. Flower beds in Holland
Vincent van Gogh. Flower beds in Holland Bouquet of flowers on white background (seen at VT Wonen)
Bouquet of flowers on white background (seen at VT Wonen) Agapanthus, Claude Monet
Agapanthus, Claude Monet Vincent van Gogh. Sunflowers
Vincent van Gogh. Sunflowers The Milkmaid - Vermeer painting
The Milkmaid - Vermeer painting Portrait of a woman, anonymous - 1633
Portrait of a woman, anonymous - 1633 The great wave of Kanagawa, Hokusai
The great wave of Kanagawa, Hokusai Flower arrangement, Jan Davidsz. de Heem
Flower arrangement, Jan Davidsz. de Heem A Amsterdam street scene - Adrianus Eversen
A Amsterdam street scene - Adrianus Eversen The Artist’s Garden in Giverny, Claude Monet
The Artist’s Garden in Giverny, Claude Monet The Mirror, Robert Reid
The Mirror, Robert Reid Spring Flowers, Claude Monet
Spring Flowers, Claude Monet Queen Elizabeth of Bourbon
Queen Elizabeth of Bourbon Vincent van Gogh. Olive orchard
Vincent van Gogh. Olive orchard Cypresses
Cypresses