Li Tieguai (Iron Crutch Li) is one of the favorite figures of Qi Baishi. He created the image of Li Tieguai according to the folk tales, in which the male character with disheveled hair and dirty face always holds an iron crutch and has a bunch of bottle gourds on his shoulder, like a beggar or an immortal. In his early works, Li Tieguai usually stands on his own feet with the crutch in his hand, which highlights the “crooked-foot” in an exaggerated manner and expresses a sense of naivety. While in his later works, the figure often has an unkempt appearance in a sitting posture with the bottle gourds on his back or in his arms and looks less naïve but more sophisticate. The painter in the later period attached great attention on the depiction of the figure’s likeness to a beggar and an immortal and used his works to imply matters and truth. This painting was made by Qi in his later years, and the figure on it looks idle and casual, with features of both a beggar and an immortal. The poem inscribed on the painting reads that “He must be regretful for leaving the body for too long, as he thus lost his own handsome appearance. He never met a wise person who can see his real identity and don’t treat him like a hungry ghost.” It means that seldom would people see this hungry man as an immortal if he doesn’t hold his iron crutch and bottle gourds, which implies that people always judge others from their appearance and rarely see their nature. It is obvious that the Li Tieguai in this painting is also a metaphor for the artist himself.

It is Qi’s consistent style to repeat creation on the same topic and theme. His interest in Li Tieguai originated from the echoes of his sense and feeling with Li’s image. In Qi’s eyes, his art had been underestimated for a long time, and some people just judge him from his family background and appearance in the same way they see Li Tieguai. However, such paintings and inscriptions are seldom tinged with indignation but usually take on a sense of humor and resignedness as well as wisdom thus implied.

(Edited by Li Hanning & Yang Zhige, 2021)