When you think of the most famous women from the Republican era of China, who comes to mind? Perhaps it’s the diplomatic beauty Sai Jinhua, who represented China in Europe, or Dong Zhujun, the former courtesan turned business tycoon. Or maybe it’s Xiao Fengxian, who shared a legendary romance with General Cai E. These women, once part of the shadowy world of the brothels, reinvented themselves with their wisdom, carving out extraordinary lives. But when it comes to making an international splash, with her talents being celebrated in Europe’s art world, the name you should remember is Pan Yuliang.

Pan Yuliang’s social circle was a who’s who of the art world.

Pan Yuliang’s life was anything but conventional. Born in 1899 in Yangzhou, she was first named Chen Xiuqing. Tragically, both her parents died by the time she was eight, and she became an orphan. She moved in with her uncle, who later betrayed her, selling her to a brothel in Wuhu when she was just 14. She was now a woman of the night, a “fallen” woman, labeled by society as vulgar, cheap, and immoral.

Yet, despite her circumstances, Pan didn’t give up. She escaped over a dozen times in her first four years, enduring punishment and even self-harm in a desperate attempt to escape her fate. But in an unexpected turn, she was introduced to Pan Zanhua, a reform-minded man who had studied in Japan and worked for the government. He was taken by her rebellious spirit and, seeing her potential, paid to free her from the brothel. He also taught her to read and write. It wasn’t a traditional romance—Pan Zanhua was already married—but their bond deepened. Eventually, in a bold act of defiance against society’s scorn, Pan Zanhua married Pan Yuliang, making her his second wife.

It was this marriage that opened the doors to her future, as Pan Zanhua, a man of influence, helped her change her name to Pan Shixiu and offered her a chance at a different life. She left her past behind and moved to Shanghai, where she was introduced to the world of art. She watched, fascinated, as her neighbor, art professor Hong Ye, painted, and soon she was attempting her own paintings, despite having no formal training.

Her raw talent was undeniable. In time, she became a student at the Shanghai Art Academy, but not without obstacles. Despite acing the entrance exam, her background as a former courtesan led to her being initially rejected. Only after a word from her mentor Hong Ye was she allowed to enroll. Her progress was slow, though, hindered by a lack of resources, including nude models for life drawing. Desperate, she began to sketch from memory and from her own reflection in the mirror. She poured her soul into her work.

But the past was never far behind. Rumors about her life as a courtesan followed her like a shadow. At school, some students refused to associate with her, calling her “the courtesan” behind her back. These societal prejudices didn’t just come from her peers; her own husband struggled with her desire to depict the human body in her artwork. But Pan Yuliang persisted, believing that only through her art could she silence the critics.

In a bold move to escape the gossip and offer her a fresh start, Pan Yuliang traveled to France, where she studied painting at prestigious institutions such as the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. She became the first Chinese woman to study at the Royal Academy, and her work soon earned international recognition, breaking barriers for Chinese artists in Europe.

Despite the hardships she faced, including financial struggles and isolation, Pan Yuliang’s resolve never wavered. She created pieces that were celebrated in exhibitions across Europe, and her works were even acquired by the Louvre. Pan Yuliang became one of China’s most renowned modern artists, earning admiration from figures like Xu Beihong and Su Xuelin, who hailed her as one of the leading painters of her time.

However, her success came at a price. When she returned to China, she was still regarded with suspicion. Rumors continued to swirl around her past, and even her artwork was criticized as being bought by others rather than created by her own hand. But Pan Yuliang’s resolve only hardened, and in 1937, she returned to France, where she would spend the remainder of her life, her work and reputation growing even stronger.

In the end, Pan Yuliang became a symbol of perseverance and triumph over adversity. She never sought to forget her past but instead used it as fuel for her artistic journey. She passed away in Paris in 1977, her legacy forever etched into the history of Chinese art. Even in death, she insisted on being laid to rest as a Chinese woman, in the dress that had always symbolized her pride in her heritage.

Pan Yuliang’s story is a reminder that greatness does not depend on where you start, but on the strength to forge your own path. Her life was a testament to the power of art to transcend societal labels, to transform shame into pride, and to challenge the norms of her time. Today, her name shines brightly in the annals of both Chinese and global art history, a true “painted soul” who triumphed despite the odds.