Eighth of Ten Leaves from the Album of Ink Plum Blossoms (墨梅冊十開之八)

This work is the eighth piece from *The Album of Ink Plum Blossoms* by Wang Yi. The composition is elegant and sparse, depicting plum blossoms in ink with upright, winding branches and delicately spaced flowers. The brushwork fuses boldness and softness, dryness and wetness, expressing a dynamic spirit through the ink. The inscription reads: “By the bright moon, deep spring dreams drift afar; an immortal guest of the Jade Hall paints slanting branches.” Inspired by classical poetic imagery, it evokes a scene of distant dreams and luminous moonlight, as if an immortal were sketching plum blossoms on a tranquil spring night. The artist uses gentle yet powerful strokes to express the resilience and grace of plum branches. The strategic use of negative space creates a poetic atmosphere, lending the piece a unique composition and vivid rhythm. The image radiates an aura of refined clarity, perfectly aligning with the noble character of plum blossoms—standing proud in snow and blooming in solitude. This painting conveys a quiet, pure spirit and aesthetic ideal, making it a fine work in the tradition of classical literati painting.