Xu Beihong can be said to be the first Chinese artist to have successfully integrated Chinese painting and Western academic realism. Here, Xu achieves his aim of accurately portraying nature by adhering to the principles of Western realism while combining with the Chinese medium.In this painting, the bamboo's tubular toughness contrasts with the soft pink petals of the plum blosssoms, which belie the flower's hardy nature. Plum blossoms represent the scholar's strength, fortitude and unwavering character even in the face of political adversity.
