In the early 1930s, Liu Kaiqu (1904-93) returned after studying sculpture in Europe for a number of years and started teaching at the National Fine Art School, now the China Academy of Art, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. Liu often told students that an artist had to respect and retain a sense of freshness toward his models and subjects.

He went on to create, teach, and do administrative work in the art field. He was the first director of the National Art Museum of China, which opened in 1963.