People Sitting Under the Old Tree

Feng Zikai, his original name of was Run which was changed into Ren. He had another name called Ying Xing, courtesy name Xing. Born in Shimen, Tong town, Zhejiang province, he entered Zhejiang First Normal School and learned music and painting under the tutelage of Li Shutong. In 1919, he founded Shanghai Vocational Normal School with several of his classmates, and in 1921, he travelled eastward to Japan to study painting and music. After returning to China, he taught in Shanghai Art University, Zhejiang University, and National Academy of Art. He ended his teaching career in 1943 and, from then on, focused on painting and writing. After 1952, he served as the vice-chairman of the Shanghai branch of China Artists Association, and the vice-chairman of Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Constultative Conference(CPPCC). Feng was adept in painting cartoons with a focus on ancient poems and children’s life, all of which are presented in his unique style.