Ernest-Nikolai-Johann Lisner, born in 1874 and died in 1941, was a Russian artist and owner of a private art studio in Moscow. He created a series of paintings dedicated to the Russo-Polish wars and the Seven Years' War.

Lisner, known as a painter, book illustrator, poster artist, and scenographer, is today most recognized for his cycle of watercolors dedicated to the Time of Troubles and the tumultuous 17th century. His works reflect significant events in Russian history, such as "The Beginning of the Battle of I. I. Bolotnikov's Army with Tsar V. Shuisky's Troops on December 2, 1606, near Moscow," "The Expulsion of the Poles from the Kremlin by Dmitry Pozharsky on October 22, 1612," and "The Entry of the Red Guard into the Kremlin in November 1917." Lisner's bright graphic illustrations were used in textbooks and accompanied materials in newspapers and magazines. In the 1980s, a new discovery of his work occurred when the printing house "Goznak" reissued two books of Russian folk tales, "Gore" and "About the Fox Sister and the Wolf," eighty years later. Modern publishers included his works alongside the graphics of masters such as E. D. Polenov, I. Ya. Bilibin, and B. V. Zvorikin. Despite the recognition of his talent, Lisner's life and work remain little studied.

Ernest Ernestovich came from Russified Austrian nobility. His father, Ernst-Constantin, lived in Moscow and traded in inks. Lisner began drawing at a young age, being self-taught, and pursued it for his own pleasure. At 26, he decided to pursue painting professionally and entered the Academy of Arts in 1900, where he studied for eight years and received the title of artist for his painting "Greetings to You, Heroes of Labor." Lisner was inspired by the ideas of the Wanderers, who became a symbol of Russian painting in the 19th century. In 1909, he participated in the 37th exhibition of the Society of Traveling Art Exhibitions. Although the ideas of the Wanderers differed from the creative position of the "World of Art" group, to which I. Ya. Bilibin belonged, Lisner adopted from him the principles of book design and illustration creation. In children's publications designed by Lisner, ornate frames, elegant initials, and whimsical fonts appeared. In the following years, he was part of various associations of visual artists, such as the society of artists "Free Creativity" and others. After the 1917 revolution and the Civil War, Lisner continued to actively participate in the artistic life of the Soviet government. In the 1920s, he was part of the association "Art for Workers," the group of artists "Krylo," and the Society of Artists named after I.E. Repin. In his home in Moscow, he maintained a private art studio and printing house. Lisner was seriously interested in history, creating paintings dedicated to the Russo-Polish wars and the Seven Years' War. His illustrations for fairy tales detail and realistically demonstrate Russian life, character costumes, and interiors. Although his "book" legacy is not extensive, Lisner's works played an important role in the development of children's literature and left a bright mark in the history of Russian publishing.