Konstantin Maksimov, a prominent socialist realist painter, occupied a unique position in history both as an artist and an influential teacher, who helped to establish and promote Chinese oil painting. Apart from being known in Russia as a master of psychological portraits, Maksimov's oil painting training class had a profound effect on both the art and the careers of his twenty students during the years he spent in China, teaching by request of the Chinese Government. Notes taken during his lectures were serialized to give a more personal view of his instructions.

Today, his works are still widely collected by both Russian and Chinese art connoisseurs. Besides his prolonged stay in China from 1...