Li Keran （李可染）

Li Keran (1907-1989), born as Li Yongshun in Xuzhou of Jiangsu Province, was a renowned contemporary Chinese artist and calligrapher. Li excelled at creating landscapes, human figures and cattle. He began to learn the traditional Chinese landscape painting at the age of 13.

In 1923, he entered the Shanghai Art College, where he was greatly inspired by Chinese scholar Kang Youwei's lectures on learning from both the Eastern and Western arts. He then started to bring Western artistic techniques, such as chiaroscuro, into his creations, and in doing so created a unique personal style. His "black paintings" feature imposing Chinese sceneries executed in the predominant color of black. His works have been sought after by numerous collectors both at home and abroad.