Huang Binhong was born in Zhejiang Province. Mr. Huang studied painting and then spent many years editing literary and art journals in Shanghai and teaching at fine arts colleges in Shanghai, Beijing and the West Lake Art College in Hangzhou. Huang was a master of freehand landscape painting who was well versed in the works of the great masters of the past, and followed many of their techniques. He achieved a simple yet profound effect in his landscapes through the use of the thick, dark ink over which he applied light or heavy coloring. His work was also known for its powerful brushwork and its fresh approach to composition. In 1953 on his 90 th birthday, Huang was awarded the title of "Outstanding Painter of the Chinese People. "