Zdeněk Sklenář (1910 – 1986) was a Czech painter, graphic artist and illustrator. He completed his studies at the School of Applied Arts in Prague under Professor Zdeněk Kratochvíl in 1939. He joined the Mánes Artists’ Association in 1943. From 1945 to 1950 he was an instructor at his alma mater, by then the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design, where he was appointed a full professor in 1968. His work as a graphic artist was influenced by Jan Zrzavý, Amedeo Modigliani, surrealism (particularly later in his career) and, following a trip to China in 1955, Chinese calligraphy; Chinese characters often appear in his work. Sklenář was hugely influential for a whole generation of pupils.