Bamboo-Covered Stream in Spring Rain Possibly 1368 - 1644

"Bamboo-Covered Stream in Spring Rain" is a hanging scroll by Xia Chang, a renowned Chinese painter during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). This monumental work, now housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, captures the delicate beauty of a bamboo forest with a subtle interplay of light and shadow. Executed in ink and light washes of color, the painting features a sweeping composition emphasizing the graceful lines of bamboo stalks reaching towards the sky, creating a sense of depth and tranquility. Xia Chang's masterful brushwork and expressive use of ink evoke the gentle rhythm of rain falling on the bamboo leaves, inviting the viewer to experience the serenity of the natural world.