Artwork

The Kill

The Kill, by Unknown, unspecified, -200
The Kill, by Unknown, unspecified, -200

The Kill is an unspecified painting by the Yuan dynasty literati painting artist Unknown. It dates from -200 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.
1957.139
Credit line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harold T. Clark in memory of Flora L. Terry

About this work

Overview

This ancient Chinese shell, over 2,000 years old, features two fighting roosters painted on its inner surface, representing the earliest extant figure paintings in Chinese history.

Subject & Meaning

The subject depicts a dynamic scene of two roosters in combat, conveyed with a sense of liveliness and immediacy, though the specific context or symbolism behind the scene is not explicitly documented.

Technique & Style

The painting is characterized by thin, confident ink lines applied directly to the shell's surface, with no shading employed, highlighting an early example of Chinese ink-on-shell artistry.

History & Provenance

Dating back over 2,000 years, this shell is one of the oldest surviving examples of Chinese painting, though detailed provenance information (ownership history) is not provided in the available facts.

The Hunt
The Hunt, 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.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted The Kill?

The Kill was painted by Unknown in -200.

Where can I see The Kill?

The Kill is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is The Kill?

The Kill is associated with Yuan dynasty literati painting.