[2] Phan Kế An studied at Bưởi school under famous teachers such as Lê Thị Lựu, Tô Ngọc Vân, and Nguyễn Tường Lân.

In his role as commissioning editor, An drew political cartoons aimed at French, and later American, imperialism, as well as Ngô Đình Diệm's Republic of Vietnam government.

[4] In November 1948 he spent 3 weeks with Hồ Chí Minh and his advisers in the Việt Bắc, producing 20 portraits, which were later published in the Sự Thật (The Truth) newspaper.

According to An, early works of communist leaders and soldiers were created to show support of the Việt Minh revolution, and risked severe punishment, even execution, if caught by French officials.

[6] In the winter of 1950, as a special envoy for the Việt Minh, his painting Remembering the Northwest/Remember One the Northwest (Nhớ Một Chiều Tây Bắc), quickly established him as a renowned lacquer artist.