Spring Breeze of Myriad Pasts 1434 - 1466

"Spring Breeze of Myriad Pasts" is a hanging scroll by Chinese artist Zhang You (1400-1499) that was created between 1434 and 1466. The painting features a delicate, flowing depiction of a blooming plum tree, its branches cascading down the silk ground in a graceful, elegant manner. The use of ink washes in the painting emphasizes the soft, gentle nature of the subject matter, highlighting the beauty of the blossoming tree. The painting embodies the concept of "xieyi", a traditional Chinese style known for its expressive and simplified brushwork, where the essence of the subject is captured in a few lines. "Spring Breeze of Myriad Pasts" is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.