San Win is noted as being the first Burmese artist to embrace the Impressionist style and one of the country's most prominent artists of the 20th Century. As an adolescent and young adult, Win studied at the Burma Art Club and Rangoon University, as well as in London, and at Columbia University. He was also an art teacher and government official presiding over art programs in Burma for most of his life.

San Win plays a significant role in Burmese art history as the first Myanmarese painter to embrace impressionism among the members of the early Rangoon School. Educated first under Martin Ward, the president of the Burma Art Club, San Win was later granted government sponsorship to study art at Goldsmiths College in London and Columbia University in America. He eventually returned to Myanmar in the mid-1950s, where he became the deputy minister of art education and was awarded the Wunna Kyaw Htin, the highest civil service honor in the land.

His painting Bagan presents an alluring vision of the ancient city of Bagan in Mandalay, once the seat of the mighty Pagan Empire. The painting’s inclusion of historical monuments like the splendid white-and-gold Thatbyinnyu Temple and the twin stupas of Shwegugyi Temple—both built in the 12th century-- pays tribute to Myanmar’s rich history. The painting exemplifies San Win’s particular brand of Burmese impressionism characterized by subtle brushwork hinting at the blurring of outlines and features. San Win also utilizes his signature palette of rust reds and honeyed browns mixed with earthy tones of brown and green, which contrast brilliantly against the bright skies and vibrant pink, yellow, and blue of the crowd’s longyis. Visually pleasing in its elegant composition, this work highlights San Win’s ability to play off architectural forms against human figures as well as his formidable skill in lighting and shade.

As one of the most celebrated artists in Burmese art history, U San Win was the first painter to embrace Impressionism among the members of the early Rangoon School.

With a gift for art since childhood, San Win studied first under Martin Ward, the president of the Burma Art Club, and was later granted government sponsorship to pursue higher education at Goldsmiths College in the United Kingdom and Columbia University in America.

The artist eventually returned to Myanmar in his fifties, where he became the deputy minister of art education and was awarded the Wunna Kyaw Htin, the highest civil service honor in the country.