Eastern Gouache

Length:24.6 x Width:17.5 (cm)

Lin Chih-Chu (1917-2008, Daya, Taichung) went to study in Tokyo, Japan, in 1928. In 1934, he was admitted to the Japanese painting department of the Imperial Art School (now Musashino Art University). In 1940, his work was selected for the “2600th Anniversary of the Imperial Era Commemorative Art Exhibition.” After returning to Taiwan, he won the First Prize Governor’s Award twice at the Taiwan Governor-General’s Art Exhibition (Futen), securing his position in the Taiwanese art world. In 1946, he began teaching at Taichung Normal School (now National Taichung University of Education), where he remained until his retirement in 1979. Amid postwar debates over the “orthodoxy of traditional Chinese painting,” Lin proposed that painting styles should be classified by medium. He advocated for the recognition of gouache painting (Japanese-style color painting on paper or silk), organizing gouache painting associations and exhibitions. Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to the preservation and promotion of this medium, earning the title “Father of Gouache Painting in Taiwan.”
Strawberries is a sketch from life in which Lin Chih-Chu observes the growth of strawberries. He first outlines the shapes of the stems, leaves, calyxes, berries, and flowerpot, and then delicately applies red and green gansai pigments in light washes. The color palette is simple yet refined, elegantly capturing the subtle tonal layers of ripening strawberries and the contrast between old and new leaves. Lin emphasized the importance of “emotional observation from life,” believing that sketching should go beyond external forms to capture the inner spirit and charm of a subject. In observing the strawberries’ growth, Lin also conveys their vibrant life force through his sensitive use of color and line. His signature “Chih-Chu” and a red artist’s seal are visible in the lower right corner of the painting.

Accession number:20170300057