Chen Shu (1660–1736), a female artist of the Qing dynasty, was born into an elite family in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province. With an artist as a father, she had the opportunity to self-study painting from a young age. Due to the mixed attitudes toward women's education at the time, formal education was available to only a few elite women.

Chen Shu was renowned for her diverse subject matter. Careful and meticulous, her figure paintings are characterized by fine brushwork and rich, dark colours. In contrast, her landscape and bird-and-flower paintings reflect the literati style, featuring free brushwork and a graceful aesthetic.

Her eldest son, Qian Chenqun, rose to the position of Vice Minister of the Board of Punishments. Highly regarded by Emperor Qianlong, his mother’s work was brought to the emperor's attention. As a result, her paintings were more prominently represented in the imperial collection than any other Chinese female painter in history.