The Pure Whiteness of Winter 1441

Xu Jing painted *The Pure Whiteness of Winter* using ink and color on silk during the Ming dynasty in China. Its monochromatic palette and seemingly simple subject matter embody central tenets of literati painting. The image creates meaning through what it excludes. The empty space invites contemplation, while the stark, snow-laden branches evoke resilience and purity. Xu Jing was associated with the court, which was an institution that shaped artistic production. So, to understand this work, we must consider the court's artistic preferences, as well as philosophical movements that may have shaped those preferences. The scholar-officials valued restraint, allusiveness, and the ability to convey profound meaning through subtle means. *The Pure Whiteness of Winter* embodies these qualities. It reflects the artist’s engagement with the social structures of his time and the literati ideals. By consulting historical texts, biographies, and studies of Ming dynasty court culture, we can gain a deeper understanding of the artist’s intent and the artwork’s significance within its original context.