Early Spring
The artist
Guo Xi, a Chinese court painter of the Song dynasty who was known for his magical, misty mountains.
What you see
A tall painting of twisting mountains and gnarled trees wrapped in soft mist, with streams and little travelers below.
The story
Painted in 1072, it shows the moment when winter melts into spring, when the land seems to wake up and breathe again.
The style
Guo Xi used soft gray ink washes and curling 'cloud-like' brushstrokes to make the mountains feel alive and moving.
Look closer
Look for the tiny fishermen and travelers near the bottom, so small that they show just how giant the mountains really are.
Where to see it
This masterpiece is kept at the National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan, one of the great collections of Chinese art.
Fun fact
Guo Xi believed a good mountain painting should feel like a place you could walk into and wander around inside.