Jin Zhaofang (1904-1969) was from Xiuning, Anhui Province. At the age of 14, he worked as an apprentice in the Shanghai Meifeng Printing Factory and as a draftsman in Shanghai Shengsheng Art Company. During that time, he taught himself painting and embarked on the road of independent creation. He worked as a freelance painter for a long time, drawing industrial and commercial art and monthly calendars (月份牌).

After 1949, he was a member of the New Year Painting Group of the People's Fine Arts Publishing House. He served as a librarian of the Shanghai Museum of Literature and History and was a special author of the Shanghai Picture Publishing House.