Artwork
明 劉世儒 雪梅圖 軸|Plum in snow
明 劉世儒 雪梅圖 軸|Plum in snow is an ink painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Liu Shiru. It dates from 1575 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The imagery centers on the stark contrast between the dark form of the tree and the surrounding white snow, capturing a specific moment in the seasonal cycle.
Created in 1575 by Liu Shiru, this hanging scroll executed in ink on silk depicts a tree standing amidst snow. The work is classified as a landscape painting, focusing on the natural scene of a solitary tree enduring winter conditions. The imagery centers on the stark contrast between the dark form of the tree and the surrounding white snow, capturing a specific moment in the seasonal cycle.
While the plum blossom is often associated with resilience in Chinese art, the available records specifically identify the depicted elements simply as a tree and snow within a landscape context.
Technique & Style
Created in 1575, the work is executed as a hanging scroll using ink on silk. The artist employs traditional brushwork to depict a landscape featuring trees covered in snow. The composition focuses on the formal interplay between the dark ink of the branches and the white void representing the snow, characteristic of the genre.
The support material, silk, serves as the foundation for the ink application, defining the piece's tactile and visual qualities.
History & Provenance
Liu Shiru's hanging scroll Plum in snow was created in 1575, executed in ink on silk in China. The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains located. No further details on commission, prior ownership, or chain of custody are documented in the available sources.
Plum in Snow by Liu Shiru is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as recorded in its Wikidata entry.
No specific inventory or accession number is documented in the available sources, and no exhibition history is recorded for the work.
The painting, dated 1575, is classified as a hanging scroll executed in ink on silk and is catalogued among the museum's paintings holdings.
Overview
This ink on silk hanging scroll, titled Plum in Snow, was created by the artist Liu Shiru in 1575 during the Ming dynasty. It presents a minimalist landscape focusing on a single plum branch emerging from a snowy environment. The artwork exemplifies a traditional Chinese painting theme, inviting quiet contemplation through its restrained composition and delicate rendering of natural forms.
Context
This artwork was likely intended for intimate appreciation, designed to be viewed in a private setting rather than a grand hall. Its contemplative nature aligns with a long-standing tradition in Chinese painting that values quiet reflection. The strategic use of empty space and the focus on natural elements like trees are characteristic features found across various periods of Chinese art, inviting viewers to consider the interplay between presence and absence.
Artist & collection
