Viewing plum blossoms by moonlight 1200 - 1233

"Viewing Plum Blossoms by Moonlight" is a painting by Ma Yuan, a prominent figure in the Southern Song dynasty's artistic landscape. The work, created between 1200-1233, showcases Ma Yuan's signature style of sparse composition and evocative brushwork. Two figures, dwarfed by the vast expanse of the landscape, stand amidst a misty mountain scene bathed in the soft glow of the moon. The delicate branches of a plum tree reach towards the sky, their blossoms symbolic of purity and resilience. This painting, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a testament to the quiet beauty and contemplative spirit that defined Ma Yuan's artistic legacy.