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Birds, plum blossoms, and bamboo in winter

Formerly attributed to Ma Lin (active early to mid-13th century)

Set among a few scattered stems of snow-dusted bamboo, a large flowering plum tree is the main focus of this painting. The plum generally blooms around the Chinese lunar new year in mid- to late January, when most other vegetation lies dormant. All at once, blossoms sprout from supple shoots along the dark, leafless branches, signaling the imminent arrival of spring. Though its delicate flowers survive only briefly in the harshness of winter, the tree may live for many years, its limbs and trunk slowly growing into oddly configured gnarls and angles.

Date

16th century

Type

Painting

Medium

Hanging scroll mounted on panel; ink and color on silk

Department

NMAA

Institution

National Museum of Asian Art

Object number

fsg_F1916.478

Credit

Gift of Charles Lang Freer