臺南美術史
Tainan Art History
Yokoyama Fumiko, Tainan Ginza at Sunset, 1933, the 7th Taiten
Source: The catalogue of the 7th Taiten
This painting by Yokoyama Fumiko (years of birth and death unknown) was selected into Yoga (Western-style painting) Division of the 7th Taiten (Taiwan Art Exhibition) in 1933. It depicts the evening view of Tainan’s Suehirocho (末廣町; now the area around the Hayashi Department Store). The painting depicts the Hayashi Department Store (林百貨) as the main subject, and includes the orderly street lamps and pedestrians in the foreground. The overall image is delineated with simplified color planes. The artist uses the hazy glow of lights to create the feeling of prosperity in the urban area, showing a rather dynamic expression. When creating this painting, Yokoyama was a student at the Tainan First Girls’ Secondary School (now Tainan Girls’ Senior High School), and lived in an alley near the Hayashi Department Store. The building was thereby a subject of deep emotional attachment for the artist. According to her interview published on the Taiwan Nichi Nichi Shinpo (Taiwan Daily News), Yokoyama stated that “the selected work depicts Ginza at sunset…Because I like painting, I often spend time making art, and have been largely instructed by Mr. Misono.” One can infer that Yokoyama painted this work around sunset, when the night was about to fall. Hence, the lingering light from a combination of the sunset and the glowing street lights. In school, Yokoyama was taught by Misono Nobuya (御園生暢哉; years of birth and death unknown), whose works had been selected into the Taiten and the Futen multiple times as well. Misono’s style was known to be constructed with unfettered brush work, together with lively, vibrant, and simple strokes.
References
Unknown author. “Among the First-time Selectees, Three Are from the Tainan First Girls’ Secondary School. The Principal Rejoices.” Taiwan Daily News, page 7 (1933.10.25).
Lin, Yen. “The Splendidly Lit Tainan Ginza: Yokoyama Fumiko’s Dream of a Summer Sunset.” Missing Pieces: Taifuten Historical Archives. https://taifuten.com/story/【名單之後】萬朵燈花的臺南銀座:橫山文子的夏/ (Viewed on 2023.8.15).