In light snow and among graceful plum blossoms is perched a pair of magpies. The plum branches are outlined with delicate and orderly lines. In the painting of the plum blossoms, the petals were done with fine lines of light ink. The outer edges of the petals were redone in white to provide contrast, and the calyxes were rendered by washes of rouge. The colors complement each other, and though there are not many of them in the painting, the colors suggest the image of an elegant gentleman unsullied amidst the bright cold snow.Sung dynasty artists emphasized the principles of paintings. In flower paintings, depicting from life was especially stressed, as this painting surely testifies. Theories of plum blossom painting by early critics include the method of plum branches and trunks crossing as do the strokes in the character "nu女." Even though there is only one plum branch in this painting that was depicted from life, it is nonetheless in agreement with this theory.