Flowering Plum in Moonlight and Snow 1550 - 1599

"Flowering Plum in Moonlight and Snow" is a hanging scroll by Liu Shiru, a prominent Chinese painter from the late Ming dynasty. Executed between 1550 and 1599, the painting features a delicate plum tree blossoming under a full moon, its branches reaching out against a backdrop of snow-covered landscape. The sparse composition, characterized by loose brushstrokes and washes of ink, evokes a sense of tranquility and serenity, typical of the literati style of painting favored by the Chinese elite. The painting, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, showcases Liu Shiru's mastery of ink painting and his talent for capturing the subtle beauty of nature.