A Historical Dictionary of Modern Japanese Art: Yuichi Takahashi 《Salmon》

A few years ago, the salmon rebellion broke out in Taiwan, and many people changed their name to "salmon" in order to enjoy the discounts on sushi meals. When it comes to salmon in art history, we have to mention "Salmon" by the 19th century Japanese oil painter Takahashi Yuichi (1828-1894). This classic work is definitely on the list of "salmon art history".

Yuichi Takahashi was an important promoter of Western painting in Japan and one of the earliest Western painters in Japan. Originally studying Japanese traditional painting, Takahashi was deeply attracted by the realistic and delicate visual effects brought by Western painting when Western technology and civilization poured into Japan. ”, to study painting. In the extreme eastern island country that lacked brushes, paints, and even lack of "audience", Takahashi and other Japanese who were interested in learning Western painting actively appealed to the foreigners in Japan, and promoted the education of Western painting, so that oil painting, watercolor, etc. can be gradually introduced in Japan developed.

From this "Salmon", we can see that Takahashi pursues the external texture of a pair of objects, the silvery fish scales are depicted on both sides of light and dark, the fresh and shiny fish meat slices, as well as the dark internal organs and fish bones. been engraved.

This pursuit of material texture was related to the background of the era when Japan was eager to learn new knowledge of Western technology and explore novel visual wonders. Interestingly, this oil painting was painted on paper, not the usual canvas or wood. Living in Japan in the 19th century, Yuichi Takahashi, who was unable to study painting in Europe, used his assiduous learning and knowledge-seeking spirit to create this shocking classic work in this East where Western art has not yet taken root.