Ink and colours.  Two barren willow trees frame the bank.  Four crows are perched on a branch, their attitudes life-like.  Winter prunus and snow bamboo grow in thickets between rocks and willow trees.  Rushes by the bank heavily laden with snow bend over the icy water.  A pair of wild ducks are in the water, having come from afar.  The work is unsigned.  The title of the painting as well as its author are ascribed by the Ching dynasty collector Liang Ching-piao (1620-1691).

Huang Chuan (died A.D. 965) was a native of Cheng-tu in Ssuchuan Province.  His tsu was Yao-shu and he made a name for himself with painting.  In his 17th year he was called into the Court of Wang Yen, then ruler of Shu (Ssuchuan) to serve as tai-chao in the Han-lin Academy.  In a lifetime he served in various offices including Surveillance Vice Commissioner.  In painting he was not reckless or impulsive, but combined the strong points of various masters into his own style.  In painting flowers and bamboo he followed Teng Chang-yu, in birds and sparrows Tiao Kuang-yin, in landscape Li Sheng, in cranes Hsueh Chi and in dragons Sun Yu.  And yet he imbued what he had learned with a lively boldness, free from restraining rules, largely surpassing his masters.  He followed in his ruler's capitulation to the Sung Court in A.D. 965, and received the rank of Left critic-advisor to the heir apparent.  He died that year.  His birth year is not known.