Artwork Page for Li Wenzhong Clears the North

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Li Wenzhong Clears the North

李文忠掃北

1796–1820

China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Jiaqing period

(1796–1820)
Medium
Polychrome woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Measurements
36.2 x 52.2 cm (14 1/4 x 20 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2025.76
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

Woodblock printing in color reached a height in China in the 1600s to 1700s. The prints were executed by means of sets of separate blocks, each carved to print a different color.

Description

In the 1600s, printing flourished in such Jiangnan cities as Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Huizhou, evolving from privately enjoyed illustrated books printed in color to more commercialized single-sheet color prints that were hung on walls and became part of the rich urban visual culture.
A horizontal polychrome woodblock print depicts a battle on a bridge over stylized waves. From left to right, two armored men on horseback charge toward Li Wenzhong, who appears on a white horse pointing a spear. Above, a blue lion-like creature emerges from clouds. Chinese calligraphy labels characters and the scene across the top. Figures with light skin tones wear vibrant blue, red, and yellow garments, and soldiers appear in the water below.

Li Wenzhong Clears the North

1796–1820

China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Jiaqing period (1796–1820)

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