Johnsy had been bed ridden with Pneumonia. According to the doctor she had lost the will to live. Therefore her condition was not improving.

To remove Johnsy’s depression, she tried to revive Johnsy’s interest in things around her. She talked about clothes and fashion. She brought a drawing board in Johnsy’s room. She painted and whistled to entertain Johnsy. But Johnsy responded to nothing. She was lost in her own thoughts.

Behrman had a lifelong dream to paint a masterpiece. Behrman painted the last leaf to save Johnsy’s life. His painted leaf succeeded in reviving Johnsy’s faith in life. Behrman himself died while painting it. His sacrifice and the message of optimism conveyed by the last leaf prove it to be his masterpiece. Thus, his dream was fulfilled.

The last leaf looked absolutely real. Even Johnsy could not differentiate between the real leaf and Behrman’s leaf. Besides, Behrman’s leaf helped Johnsy come out of her depression. It saved her life. Thus, it was a masterpiece.