Artwork

Li Wenzhong Clears the North

Li Wenzhong Clears the North, by Unknown, 1808
Li Wenzhong Clears the North, by Unknown, 1808

Li Wenzhong Clears the North is a print by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1808 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

The artist’s name is lost, but the style matches prints from cities like Suzhou, where workshops churned out scenes of battles and legends.

You see a general on horseback, leading soldiers through a snowy mountain pass. The scene is packed with tiny figures—some fighting, others marching—all wrapped in thick winter robes.

This painting was likely made as a print, not a one-of-a-kind scroll. Back then, colorful prints like this were sold cheaply and hung in homes, almost like posters. The artist’s name is lost, but the style matches prints from cities like Suzhou, where workshops churned out scenes of battles and legends.

To see more prints from this time, look up *china, qing dynasty (1644–1911)*.

Overview

Li Wenzhong Clears the North is a print depicting a military scene. It shows a general on horseback leading soldiers through a snowy mountain pass, with numerous figures engaged in various activities.

Subject & Meaning

The print illustrates a dramatic military moment, with a general at the forefront and soldiers fighting or marching in the background. The scene is set in a rugged, snow-covered landscape.

Technique & Style

The work is characterized by its detailed rendering of numerous figures in varied activities, all clad in thick winter attire. The style is consistent with prints produced in urban centers like Suzhou during the Qing dynasty.

History & Provenance

This print was likely produced in a workshop, as part of a commercialized print culture that emerged in Jiangnan cities during the 1600s. The artist's name is unknown.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.