Jin Meisheng (1902-1989) was a native from Shanghai. From 1920 onward, he painted calendar posters exclusively for the Commercial Press in Shanghai. In 1930, he established his own studio. Together with Jin Xuechen and Li Mubai, he was known as one of the "Three Pillars of Calendar Posters". From the 1950s onward, Jin was attached to the Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House [上海人民美术出版社, Shanghai renmin meishu chubanshe]. Jin was able to assimilate Chinese traditional painting and Western watercolor in his works despite their separate and unique styles.
After 1949, Jin joined the Chinese Artists Association; he became a member of the Standing Council and art advisor of the Shanghai Branch of the Association. His works, for which he won prizes during national competitions, have been included in a number of national collections.
Jin's "calendar girl"-design style (月份牌) had been completely discredited since the 1960's, but was rehabilitated in the 1980's. Several of his signature designs were republished by the Shanghai renmin meishu chubanshe in 1989.
