An Lin (1917) was born in Saigon, Vietnam. In 1934, he returned to China and entered the Shanghai New China Art Training School, from which he graduated in 1937. Before he arrived in Yan'an in 1939, An was active in revolutionary and progressive art circles. In Yan'an, he enrolled in the Lu Xun Art Academy (Lu'yi). In 1945, he joined the Lu'yi Literary and Art Work Team and went to the Northeast, where he became editor of the Northeast Illustrated (Dongbei huabao). From 1950 onwards, he worked for the People's Fine Arts Publishing House until 1958, when he became associate professor at the Central Drama Institute.

An, who retired in 1985, specialized in oil paintings and New Year pictures.