Author:Han Shih-Chiu

Size:Length:221 x Width:72 (cm)

Size description：135×59 (畫心)

Introduction：Han Shih-Chiu (1913-1979), born Han Chih-Wen, with the courtesy name Chang, also used the pseudonyms Beipo Recluse and Wanderer of the Eastern Frontier. He was a Taiwanese ink painter, originally from Nanpang Village, Changi County, Shantung Province. His father, Han Fei-Ching, was an avid collector of epigraphy, calligraphy, and paintings, which greatly influenced Han’s artistic development from an early age. He pursued his education in Jinan, attending a normal school. In 1943, he founded Siwei High School while also serving as a teacher at Chiaoao Private High School in Tsingtao. In 1949, he organized the Tsingtao Art Exhibition before relocating to Taiwan with the government. He later worked as a teacher at Kaohsiung Industrial School, Kaohsiung Vocational High School, Kaohsiung Girls’ High School, Municipal Second High School, Taoming High School, Taiwan Provincial Kaohsiung Marine College, and as a researcher at the Chinese Language Research Center. Throughout his career, Han received multiple awards, including Outstanding Teacher, the Kaohsiung City Government Award, and the Chinese Language Medal. In 1961, he co-founded the Haitien Art Studio alongside Yang Hsiang-Yun, Chiang Ching-Jung, and others, later dedicating himself to teaching traditional Chinese painting at the Kaohsiung Social Education Hall. His works won awards at the Kaohsiung Art Exhibition, Taiwan Provincial Teachers’ Art Exhibition, Kaohsiung Calligraphy Exhibition, and the Kaohsiung Teachers’ Art Exhibition. Han held numerous solo and joint exhibitions domestically and even took his works on a touring exhibition in Hawaii, United States. He also contributed over ten critical articles to newspapers and magazines and compiled the “Hai Tien Art Studio Collection of Calligraphy and Paintings.”

Han Shih-Chiu was not only skilled in poetry, calligraphy, and painting, but also enjoyed seal carving. During his time in Jinan, his landscape paintings were often based on sketches drawn from life at Lao Mountain, Chiming Lake, and the East China Sea coastline. Later, he shifted to figure painting, drawing inspiration from Wang Chen (Palung Sha-jen) and adopting a style reminiscent of the Shanghai School. After settling in Taiwan, Han frequently exchanged artistic ideas with his peers, including Fu Chuan-Fu and Tao Shou-Po. His flower-and-bird paintings are expressive and lyrical, characterized by graceful and fluid brushwork and subtle, elegant colors.

He often painted the Four Gentlemen (plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum), as seen in this artwork, symbolizing noble character and refined virtues. He also depicted camellias, peonies, azaleas, and wisteria, as well as birds such as mynas, parrots, sparrows, magpies, swallows, ducks, and geese. His compositions reflect a serene and harmonious atmosphere, capturing the contentment and stability of life in Taiwan.

Accession number:PT06902700