Hu Jinye (1928, Yongkang, Zhejiang Province) graduated in 1952 from the Art Department of the Huadong (East China) Military Academy. In 1962, he entered the Jiangsu Chinese Painting Academy. He later worked for the Art Creation Office of the Political Department of the Nanjing Military Region.

Hu tried his hand at a wide variety of genres: propaganda art, comic strips, oil painting, blockprints and New Year pictures. From the 1960s onward, he decided to concentrate on portraits in the traditional style.

In 1965, Hu worked with Zhao Guangtao, Chen Qi and Wang Wentao to produce a six-sheet series devoted to the self-sacrifice that was valued so much at the time by Lin Biao and other leaders. The posters feature titles as 'Charge courageously, the bayonet colors red' and 'Brave and resourceful, be ever victorious'.