Yan Wenliang

Place: Suzhou

Born: 1893

Death: 1988

Biography:

Yan Wenliang was a Chinese painter and educator, who is regarded as one of the fathers of Chinese oil painting and an important art educator of his time. He was born in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, and began studying painting in 1909. In 1922, he founded the Suzhou Art Academy and went to Paris in 1929 to study at the L'Ecole Superieure Nationale des Beaux Arts. Yan was one of the four pioneers of Chinese modern art who earned the title of 'The Four Great Academy Presidents'. He is known for his contributions to Chinese oil painting and art education.