臺南美術史
Tainan Art History
Takahashi Kiyoshi, A Backstreet in Tainan, 1928, the 2nd Taiten
Source: Catalogue of the 2nd Taiten
This work by Takahashi Kiyoshi (years of birth and death unknown) was selected into the 2nd Taiten (Taiwan Art Exhibition) in 1928. According to Taiwan Nichi Nichi Shinpo (Taiwan Daily News) of 1927, Takahashi used to be the director of the Tainan Branch of Taiwan Warehouse Co., Ltd. (臺灣倉庫會社). This painting depicts the view of an alleyway in Tainan. The image focuses on the houses along the winding alley extending into the depth of the scene, creating a sense of perspective. Visible in front of the houses was the sewer system, which was a progressive development during the period of Japanese rule that embodied urban modernization. On the right of the image, a resident squatting down by the wall was sorting out parasols and other things. Other figures can be seen moving through the alleyway as well. Although this work is now lost, it can be inferred that it depicts the hours around noon under a sizzling sun. The overall atmosphere of the painting is quiet and tranquil.
References
Lee, Shu-Pei. “A Study of Landscapes of Tainan in the Catalogues of the Taiten and the Futen during the Period of Japanese Rule.” The 2022 NCAF Visual Arts Grant for Study and Research – 2nd Phase, 2023.
Taiwan Nichi Nichi Shinpo (Taiwan Daily News). “New Comers’ First Step of Drawing the Island of Rakuyo—The Group of Nankosha in Tainan.” Taiwan Nichi Nichi Shinpo (Taiwan Daily News), 1927 (page 3).
Liu, Chi-Yu. A Backstreet in Tainan. Missing Pieces – Taifuten Historical Archives. https://taifuten.com/oblect/臺南後街/ (viewed on 2024.1.22)