signed KUCHAN, inscribed, and with one seal of the artist ink and color on paper, hanging scroll Li Kuchan (1899-1983), was a Chinese painter, calligrapher and art educator. He studied with Xu Beihong and Qi Baishi; the latter considered Li his best student. He specialized in bird-and-flower painting in the free and spontaneous xieyi style that captures the spirit of the subjects through expressive calligraphic brushwork and simplified forms. He was known for his depiction of birds of prey throughout his career, but the works of his later years are particularly free and bold.