Collecting Plum Flowers in Winter

The subject depicted in this painting, collecting plum flowers in remote mountains, is considered an expression of deeply rooted intellectual virtues. The plum, a symbol of the faithfulness of Confucian scholars, is a common subject in Chinese painting. The artist adapted an early version by Gai Qi (1774–1829), who had intensively studied classical figure paintings. Here, a slender, richly attired woman stands radiant before plum trees. Her fur cape protects her from the chilly atmosphere, which is masterfully conveyed through the presence of fog wafting through the trees.

The backdrop of plum trees is as important as the collecting of flowers in this scene. The artist focused on creating a winter scene by rendering moisture and clouds floating around the plums. The tiny pinkish flowers enhance the delicate atmosphere of the season.

From 1500 onwards, the subject of plum-picking expanded from traditionally featuring only male scholars to including female figures. The artists’ choice to depict women collecting plum flowers reflected the increasingly popular notion that the flower’s color and form were akin to that of a woman’s appearance.