江行初雪圖-畫心
Zhao Gan’s handscroll masterfully captures the biting chill of early winter along a river, where shivering fishermen and travelers hunch against the wind amidst bare, frosty trees. Painted during the Five Dynasties period for the Southern Tang court, it’s celebrated for its gritty, realistic depiction of common people struggling against the elements—a rare focus for imperial art. Fun fact: the calligraphy introducing the scroll is attributed to Li Yu, the famous 'Poet Emperor,' lending royal prestige to this humble scene of survival.
Location: National Palace Museum, Taipei