谢海若，著名画家，原汕头画院副院长，广东揭东县人，1901年出生于炮台桃山涂库仔一个贫苦农民家庭。少年时代因家贫，仅读过乡村私塾，为生活所迫漂洋过海，十八岁便奔走越南、柬埔寨谋生，做过苦力，当过店员和画匠并自学文化，潜心书画。
1928年在柬埔寨参加进步活动，1930年革命失败，受到法国殖民统治当局的追捕，深夜出走跋涉森林，抵达泰国曼谷，辗转回国，返汕后无家可归，寄食友人家中，翌年更得友人资助，赴上海美专暑期绘画进修班学习，在上海参加反帝大同盟，由潮籍作家洪灵菲同志推荐，参加《一八艺社》学习木刻，当时同社的人有江丰、沙季冲、陈广等，常与鲁迅先生借外国版画泉学习。
1932年，《一八艺社》被当局非法解散，不少成员受迫害逮捕，海老带着仅有的三把木刻刀和几幅原拓木刻版画回汕，先后在韩江中学、普宁兴文中学、梅峰中学、大埔百侯中学、汕头海滨中学任教至解放，在韩江中学任教时，曾与张望、钟步清三人举行木刻展览，在海滨中学时曾出版《海滨木刻集》，是潮汕木刻运动开始的第一本画集。
抗战开始，海老经吴南生同志介绍，参加“潮汕青年抗敌同志会”，提倡木刻画为抗战宣传武器。1942年，全国木刻协会委派他为潮汕地区木刻函授导师，指导各地不见面的青年搞木刻，当时这些青年大多是参加游运的。潮汕解放后，他从学校调到潮汕文联任秘书，同时也是汕头第一届政协常委，1956年曾代表市列席全国第二届政协会议：工作认真负责，业余时间还积极辅导青年美术活动工作。1957年被错划成右派，身心受到很大的创伤。在十年浩劫中精神倍受折唐，但仍然学习不懈，抖擞精神，不断磨练基本功夫。海老在表述其人生际遇时常以一棍槁蔗自喻：“头硬，尾酸，中间生虫”，是啊！老人家一生八十年，就像一枝虫蔗一样颠连坎坷，难得几天好日子过，可他就是这样用坚强的意志顽强的努力来抒写自己的历史。“四人帮”粉碎后，右派改正了，他虽年逾古稀，创作热情充沛，艺术功底日深，积极参加各种社会活动，赴广州参加省二届文代会，被选为美协理事，汕头画院成立，担任了副院长等职。其为人热情诚恳，勤苦好学，他的一生是不断追求真理，向往光明，不断探索，追随革命的一生。是潮汕地区美术界老前辈，知名的版画家、国画家。
代表作有木刻《鲁迅像》，用浪漫广义手法刻画鲁迅先生刚毅幽默的性格和爱憎分明的革命精神，作品曾先后在苏联、英国、印度、南洋一带巡回展出。他晚年作画之外尤功书法，严肃认真，孜孜不倦，造诣颇深，更为世人所器重，1980年12月27日在汕头长逝，享寿八十。

Xiehai if, famous artist, assistant dean of imperial art academy of former Shan head, guangdong is uncovered east prefectural person, was born in young of library of besmear of fort peach hill 1901 family of a poor farmer. Boyhood because domestic deficient, had read rustic private school only, bleach ocean to cross the sea for life place approach, 18 years old run Vietnam, Kampuchea fends, had done coolie, should cross counterjumper and artisian painter and teach oneself culture, painting and calligraphy of with great concentration.
Ascensive activity entered in Kampuchea 1928, revolution failed 1930, be dominated by French colony of authorities chase, the late night leaves wade forest, arrive at Thailand Bangkok, flounder goes back to the motherland, after returning Shan homeless, in sending the someone that feed friend, next year more friend aids financially, go to Shanghai beauty only summer vacation time draws class of attend in a advanced studies learns, league of anti-imperialist Great Harmony joins in Shanghai, recommend by current record author Comrade Hong Lingfei, attend " 18 art companies " study woodcarving, the person that is the same as a company at that time has Jiang Feng, Sha Jichong, Chen An to wait, often lend foreign woodcut fontal study with Lu Xun gentleman.
1932, " 18 art companies " be disbanded illegally by authorities, many members suffer persecute arrest, the sea often is taking only 3 woodcarving knife and woodcut of woodcarving of a few former develop to answer Shan, be in early or late middle school of Han river middle school, Pu Ningxing language, plum peak middle school, big Bu learns to teach in seaside of head of 100 Hou Zhongxue, Shan to liberate, when Han river middle school teachs, ever with look around, Zhong Buqing 3 people hold woodcarving to exhibit, ever published when littoral middle school " littoral woodcarving collect " , it is the part of the first picture that motion of wet Shan woodcarving begins.
War of resistance against aggression begins, the sea often gives birth to like-minded introduction via Wu Na, attend " wet Shan youth is fought enemy the comrade is met " , advocate woodcut to publicize a weapon for war of resistance against aggression. 1942, accreditation of countrywide woodcarving association he teachs by correspondence for woodcarving of wet Shan area adviser, the youth that directive each district does not meet does woodcarving, at that time these youths are to attend mostly swim of carry. After wet Shan is liberated, he moves couplet of wet Shan article to hold the post of a secretary from the school, also be Shan head at the same time members of standing committee of the first the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, ever represented conference of the 2nd the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of whole nation of city attend as a nonvoting delegate 1956: The job is serious and responsible, off hours coachs actively still young art activity works. Was delimited by the fault 1957 right-wing, body and mind gets very big scar. In the spirit in 10 years of catastrophe times suffer fold the Tang Dynasty, but still learn indefatigable, brace up, basic skill of continuous put oneself through the mill husband. The sea often is in state its life favourable or unfavourable turns in life is constant with sugar cane of one rod withered from analogy: "The head is good, end acid, intermediate unripe bug " , be! Lifetime of a respectful form of address for an old person 80 years, resemble sugar cane of one branch bug same hardship is rough, god-given a few days of wedding day pass, but the effort with the staunch volition that he uses adamancy so namely comes him describe the history. "4 people are helped " after smashing, right-wing corrected, he although year even more seventy years of age, creative work is enthusiastic and plentiful, artistic strength day is difficult, enter all sorts of society activities actively, go to Guangzhou to attend a province 2 Wen Daihui, be chosen to be thing of beautiful assistant manager, shan head imperial art academy holds water, held the position of the duty such as assistant dean. Its humanness enthusiasm is cordial, suffer from frequently academic, his lifetime is ceaseless pursuit truth, yearning and bright, ceaseless exploration, the lifetime of follow revolution. It is old-timer of group of art of wet Shan area, home of famous woodcut home, traditional Chinese painting.
Masterpiece has woodcarving " Lu Xun resembles " , with gentleman of Lu Xun of depict of gimmick of romantic broad sense the disposition of resolute humour is mixed the revolutionary spirit that be clear about what to love and what to hate, work ever was in Russia, England, India, southern Asia to take itinerate to exhibit early or late. His old age is made besides the picture especially result calligraphy, in all seriousness, assiduous, attainment is quite deep, more regard highly of common people place, was in on December 27, 1980 Shan head pass away, enjoy life 80.