Xu Beihong

Born in Jiangsu in 1895, Xu Beihong was a Chinese ink painter. His natural depictions of horses and birds exemplified his expert proficiency in essential Western art technique at the dawn of the 20th century. Having trained in Shanghai, Tokyo, and ultimately Paris, to refine his craft, Beihong developed a free technique of brush stroke which became characteristic of his figurative art.

Over the course of his life and career, the artist produced several portraits and oil paintings in addition to his ink paintings. His work has been featured in numerous posthumous exhibitions across China, France and Japan. The artist died in 1953.