Oil on canvas

43×51 cm 16 7/8×20 1/8 in

Signed in English and dated on bottom left； Titled， signed with artist’s seal on reverse
PROVENANCE
Collection of Govenor’s Mansion， Taiwan
Important private collection， AsiaWhen looking back the Taiwanese art development in the 20th century， it is not difficult to identify that the foundation of its modernization is established during the Japanese era. The movement of “Modern Taiwanese Western Art” began under the influence of Japanese art preceptors and artists based in Taiwan. As one of the most important art educators of Taiwanese modern western art， Ishikawa Kinichiro has popularized en plein air painting and brand-new aesthetic ideas， which has greatly motivated the advance of modern art. He is hailed as the “Mentor of Modern Taiwanese Western Art”.
Ishikawa Kinichiro was born into a Shogunate family， learned western art and sustained his interest in watercolors. He joined Japanese Meiji Fine Art Society and started his career as a calligrapher. Due to his proficiency in English， he worked as a military translator for the Taiwan Governor-General’s Office， aside from his aspiration and passion for art， meanwhile actively bridging the art of Japan and Taiwan. Throughout Ishikawa Kinichiro’s career， his works mainly focus on watercolors. The work on sale Taiwan Scenery was created in 1926 during the artist second visit in Taiwan. It is an oil painting of high quality rarely found， belonging to the old collection of Taiwan Governor-General’s Office. This works stands out from most of the small-scale watercolor paintings often encountered in the market， with its impressively larger size， barely seen in his oeuvre.
The work Taiwan Scenery well reflects Ishikawa Kinichiro’s preference of light. Bright spotlighting shades on the center of the painting， falling upon the roofs of radiant redness， as if placing the viewer in the south Italy or Spanish towns. The clever arrangement of complement colors outline the artistic conception and aesthetics beyond forms and objects. A serene path extends into the distance， and leads the viewer’s eyesight to the deepness forward. A sense of spaciousness is thus well represented. The graduation of the overall composition is distinct， with the application of mild and elegant colors. The free white clouds are at ease in the sky， and illustrated by delicate and agile brush strokes， which carry out the vitality of life. This works includes the components of landscape beloved by the artist， and showcases the dazzling brilliance hidden behind the simplicity of Taiwan， the “Country of Light” nicknamed by him.

Price estimate:
HKD: 400,000 – 600,000
USD: 51,300 – 76,900

Auction Result:
HKD: 472,000