Xie Zhi-Liu was born in Chang Zhou, Jiangsu to a family of scholars. From studies of history and literature at his early age, Xie Zhi-Liu also excelled in paintings. He was a professor of the Arts Faculty at the Nanjing University, specialized in studies of ancient scrolls. He was recognized with Zhang Cong-Yu as "North Zhang, South Xie". In his early career, his simplistic style resembled closely with Chen Hong-Shou. His later artistic style followed the Song schools portraying landscapes in gongbi style. He invented Jiangnan School following his research in Xu Xi and his splashed works in a later period revealed a carefree style.

This work has a fresh composition with variations of hemp-strokes, axe and broken cun strokes. Meandering pine trees were put in the foreground. Their trunks were painted with cun dots and the leaves were added with slanted strokes. A luscious forest was depicted with saturated ink. A combination of green, turquoise and ochre was used to create a realistic landscape. Mountain ranges afar were surrounded by thick mist and clouds. The harmonious colour combination composed a natural depiction of autumn scene. The overall scene of a vast landscape in lush depiction has close resemblance to a classical Jiangnan style.