Ye Qianyu (1907-95) was one of the most influential Chinese artists of the 20th century. Of his oeuvre, comprising ink paintings, drawings and cartoons, Ye is best known for his depictions of dancers－ballet dancers, folk dancers and dancers of ethnic groups－and performers of Chinese opera. His sketched strokes deliver a strong sense of motion and dynamism.
In the year 278 BC an aristocrat and poet named Qu Yuan took his own life by throwing himself into the waters of the Milo River. Qu Yuan had once been the powerful adviser to the ruler of the Chu kingdom, specializing in legal affairs and diplomacy, but the monarch was tricked into hating Qu Yuan and rejected his advice. Driven into exile in southern Chu (south of the Yangtze,