Along with plum, orchid and chrysanthemum, bamboo is considered one of the "Four Noble Ones" (si junzi) in Chinese painting. Bending but not breaking in the storm, it is the epitome par excellence of the upright and loyal Confucian official. The bamboo, with its narrow, lancet-shaped leaves and straight shaft, is ideal for expressing the artist's handwriting and character. This work stands out especially through the strong and dynamic execution of the bamboo leaves, their dense and rhythmic placement and the tense overall composition.
Chen Xiecan was from Yihuang in Jiangxi Province, and passed the provincial-level civil service examination in 1821. Little is known about his life, but he must have made a name for himself as a painter and calligrapher.