臺南美術史

圖說：徐青蓮，《春宵之圖》，第二回臺灣美術展覽會圖錄
Caption: Jyo Seiren, The View of a Spring Night, from the catalogue of the 2nd Taiten.

《春宵之圖》為徐清蓮（1910-1960）入選1928年第二回臺展東洋畫部的作品，右方牌樓寫有「花燈賽會」，應是描繪上元節活動一景。畫面主體為現今嘉義朝天宮；前景之民眾藉舞龍隊伍將視線延伸至畫面右側深處，增添畫面深度；在廟宇上方有三放射狀暈染塊面，應為燈光或煙火，而在廟方周圍的燈飾及燈籠搭配著暈染、墨韻般的技法，凸顯節慶的熱鬧氛圍與燈火陰翳之對比，整體具水墨及工筆之風，線條細緻工整。1927年《臺灣日日新報》記載：「嘉義街於每年上元日，於城鄉各地神佛遶境⋯⋯清末至今著為定例⋯⋯」，可謂嘉義每年上元節都會有繞境活動。徐青蓮於1929年入「春萌畫會」，也曾加入「鴉社書畫會」、「墨洋會」等藝文團體，是活躍於臺南州（今嘉義地區）的東洋畫家之一。（彭暐宸）

The View of a Spring Night by Jyo Seiren (1910-1960) was selected into Toyoga (Japanese-style painting) Division of the 2nd Taiten (Taiwan Art Exhibition) in 1928. On the decorated archway on the right, it was stated “Lantern Competition.” So, the painting is presumably a depiction of the Lantern Festival. The main subject of the image is the Chaotian Temple (朝天宮) in Chiayi. In the foreground, the crowd and the dragon dance parade extend the sight line to the recess on the right, increasing the depth of the image. Above the temple are three areas rendered in a radiating manner, which might be lights or fireworks. The lights and lanterns around the temple are also portrayed in the techniques of ink rendering, highlighting the contrast between the festive mood and the shadow cast by the lights. The overall image shows the style of traditional ink and fine brush painting, characterized by neat and well-executed lines. It was recorded in the Taiwan Nichi Nichi Shinpo (Taiwan Daily News) of 1927 that “a religious pilgrimage throughout the urban and rural areas is held annually on the Lantern Festival in Chiayi Street…a tradition starting from the late Qing period and now a routine practice.” So, it can be inferred that the pilgrimage was held in Chiayi on Lantern Festival every year. In 1929, Jyo joined the Chun-Meng Painting Society (春萌畫會). He was also a member of other art groups, including Crow Society (鴉社書畫會) and Mokuyokai (墨洋會). In short, Jyo was an active toyoga painter in the Tainan Prefecture (now Chiayi region). (Peng Wei-Chen)

參考資料：
〈徐清蓮個人介紹〉，《名單之後 臺府展史料庫》，https://taifuten.com/artist/徐清蓮/（檢閱於2023.08.16）。
張哲維，〈臺展入選（春宵）徐清蓮氏〉，《名單之後 臺府展史料庫》，http://taifuten.com/oblect/臺展入選（春宵）徐清蓮氏/（檢閱於2023.08.16）。

References:
“Introduction to Jyo Seiren.” Missing Pieces: Taifuten Historical Archives. https://taifuten.com/artist/徐清蓮/ (Viewed on 2023.8.16).
Chang, Che-Wei. “Selected for the Taiten (Spring Night), Jyo Seiren.” Missing Pieces: Taifuten Historical Archives. http://taifuten.com/oblect/臺展入選（春宵）徐清蓮氏/ (Viewed on 2023.8.16).