Sixth of Ten Leaves from the Album of Ink Plum Blossoms (墨梅冊十開之六)

This piece is one of the *Ink Plum Album* series, painted by the young artist Wang Yi. The brushwork is elegant and spirited, capturing a vivid sense of rhythm. The plum branches extend diagonally, dotted with blossoms in a well-balanced composition. The interplay of dense and sparse, dry and wet strokes demonstrates the artist’s refined mastery of ink. The branches are rendered with bold, vigorous lines, while the blossoms are delicately outlined with fine brushstrokes—graceful but not coquettish, solitary yet not desolate—expressing the plum blossom’s unique character of resilience and purity. On the right, the inscription reads: “In the Forbidden City, spring deepens though the snow has not yet melted; year after year, the cold fragrance drifts lightly. Devoted to the painting in reward for refined appreciation, it does not wed the east wind that crosses the small bridge.” This poem, inspired by a Yuan Dynasty verse, conveys a noble and unworldly sentiment that perfectly matches the proud, frost-defying nature of plum blossoms. The integration of poetry and painting enhances both the visual and literary experience. With a modern brush guided by ancient spirit, Wang Yi reveals profound skills in both painting and calligraphy, making this work a distinctive and poetic example of contemporary ink art.