Li Xia, a native of Fujian, excelled in figure painting and often depicted historical figures and folk stories. In 1928-1929, he traveled to Taiwan and was mainly active in Hsinchu, where he taught students like Zeng Yulan and Fan Kanqing. In 1929, he was invited to serve as a judge for the Calligraphy and Painting Enhancement Society's grand exhibition, further deepening his connections within Hsinchu's art community and influencing local artists.

 

This painting depicts the story, c.a. BC200, of Zhang Liang picking up the shoe for Huang Shi Gong and receiving his teachings on military strategy, which ultimately led to his great accomplishments. The brushwork is bold and unconstrained, with strong contrasts of ink intensity. This style is often depicted as the "Min Xi" painting.