Artwork
The Kill

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.
Artist & collection


















