臺南美術史

Mishima Toshimasa, Scenery of Anping, 1933, the 7th Taiten
Source: The catalogue of the 7th Taiten

This work by Mishima Toshimasa (1911-?) was selected into the Yoga (Western-style painting) Division of the 7th Taiten (Taiwan Art Exhibition) in 1933. Mishima was teaching at Takara Public School (寶公學校; now Li-Ren Elementary School [立人國小]) in Tainan in 1933. The painting depicts the scenery of the Taijiang Inland Sea near Anping. In the background is the historical site of the official dormitory of the commissioner of Anping Customs (安平稅關). On the right, one can see the Fort Zeelandia, and the Anping Lighthouse above the fort. In the middle ground is a pond, historically known as the Dutch Cove (荷蘭塢), which no longer exists today. The overall image is delineated with thick and solid lines to outline the subject, and densely crisscrossing brushstrokes are used to express the verdant woods in the background. Although it is impossible to observe the painting in color, the style is similar to the Japanese plein air painting, conveying the feelings of an agreeable life. Mishima taught at Takara Public School and was an art teacher at Shinchiku Prefectural Girls’ High School (now Hsinchu Girls’ Senior High School). After he returned to Japan, he continued his vocation as an educator, and published various articles related to art, color, and form. For instance, his Instrumental Drawing and Drawing Methods (用器畫法與製圖法) introduces skills and techniques of drawing, which has been rather beneficial to art enthusiasts.

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.
Lu, Ying. “Mishima Toshimasa and ‘Instrumental Drawing’ in Drawing Class.” Missing Pieces: Taifuten Historical Archives. https://taifuten.com/story/【名單之後】三島利正，以及圖畫課中的「用器畫/ (Viewed on 2023.8.24)