Watercolor

1978

Length:53.7 x Width:38.4 (cm)

Shih Nan-Sheng (b. 1941, Lukang, Changhua) graduated from the Department of Fine Arts at National Taiwan Normal University. During his academic years, he studied under leading figures in Taiwanese modern art such as Huang Chun-Pi (1898-1991), Lin Yu-Shan (1907-2004), Liao Chi-Chun (1902-1976), Li Shih-Chiao (1908-1995), Ma Pai-Shui (1909-2003), and Lee Tze-Fan (1907-1989). He was also deeply influenced by the Japanese watercolorist Akinori Fuwa (1901-1979), whose plein-air practice and refined observational skills shaped Shih’s own artistic development. Upon returning to his hometown as an art teacher, Shih continued to travel extensively around Taiwan, documenting the island’s landscapes and daily life in luminous watercolor. His works are noted for clarity, delicate hues, and quiet simplicity, expressing deep affection for Taiwan’s local scenery and rural rhythms.
Farmhouse is a representative work from Shih’s longstanding engagement with the countryside. Using single-point perspective, the composition draws the viewer into a sun-dappled corner of a rural homestead. In the foreground are familiar farmyard objects, including a stone mortar and a haystack, while the midground shows a shaded farmhouse tucked beneath a grove of trees. The yard is scattered with chickens, stones, and everyday tools, evoking the quiet fullness of rural life. Shih’s palette of soft yellows, greens, and oranges imparts warmth and a gentle sense of harmony. He renders light and shadow with precision. Leaf shadows on the farmhouse wall and the shaded base of the stone mortar reveal both mastery and a keen feel for form and mood. This tranquil yet richly observed scene captures both the physical textures and the emotional depth of Taiwan’s agrarian heritage.

Accession number:20170300031