"Apricot Blossoms," Ma Yuan, 1202.

Ma Yuan (c. 1160-65 to 1225) was THE painting master of the Song Dynasty, and with fellow artist Xia Gui, is a founder of the Ma-Xia school. Little is known of his life, other than he was from a family of painters and was a favorite of the emperors while he was alive.

What's interesting here is the little poem on the right side, composed and inscribed by Empress Yuan. It translates to:

"Meeting the wind, they offer their artful charm;
Wet by the dew, they boast their pink beauty."

A lovely image, and sentiment, for the spring, eh?

From the National Palace Museum, Taipei.

#Art #AsianArt #ChineseArt #MaYuan #Poetry #Spring