臺南美術史

Nashima Mitsugi, The Junks, 1930. Oil on canvas. 80.0 x 65.0cm. Collection of National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts.

This work by Nashima Mitsugi (1905-unknown) was selected into the 4th Taiten (Taiwan Art Exhibition) in 1930. Nashima began teaching at the Tainan Normal School (now National University of Tainan). Being new to the island and due to language barriers, he joined his colleagues to paint from life. He and his student Mishima Toshimasa (三島利正; 1911-unknown) had painted the views of ships unloading goods in Anping Port. The image of this painting features several junks. The small boats next to the large ships were receiving goods. The chimney on the left of the image might be the Taiwan Sugar Industry Co., Ltd. (臺灣糖化工業株式會社) located by the Tainan (Anping) Canal. The foreground and the riverbanks and white clouds in the background act as foils to the vibrant colors of the junks. Another junk is depicted partially in center foreground, producing a sense of depth through perspective. The overall painting exudes a vividly dynamic visual effect, and at the same time, reflects the thriving commerce at Anping Port, demonstrating a distinctive southern air.

Reference:
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.