Takama Soshichi began living on the coast in Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama in 1935 and based himself there until his death. During his student days at what is now Tokyo University of the Arts, Takama had gained attention at exhibitions sponsored by the Ministry of Education and become a central figure in the mainstream art world. And yet, one year he abruptly decided to sever ties with state-sponsored exhibitions and instead began submitting paintings as a general entrant to the privately run Dokuritsu Exhibition. This painting was unveiled the very year he made this bold move, which was seen at the time as being a statement of intent to pursue his own free artistic expression and became a major topic of discussion. A bright moon hangs slightly above the center. Perhaps the dark silhouette to its left is a ship? Apparently capturing the point where sea and sky merge, this painting is said to depict the view from the artist’s home. The use of bright, resonant colors to depict the moonlit night speaks to one of Takama’s greatest charms: his masterful use of color. (YATSUYANAGI Sae)
Takama Soshichi began living on the coast in Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama in 1935 and based himself there until his death. During his student days at what is now Tokyo University of the Arts, Takama had gained attention at exhibitions sponsored by the Ministry of Education and become a central figure in the mainstream art world. And yet, one year he abruptly decided to sever ties with state-sponsored exhibitions and instead began submitting paintings as a general entrant to the privately run Dokuritsu Exhibition. This painting was unveiled the very year he made this bold move, which was seen at the time as being a statement of intent to pursue his own free artistic expression and became a major topic of discussion.
A bright moon hangs slightly above the center. Perhaps the dark silhouette to its left is a ship? Apparently capturing the point where sea and sky merge, this painting is said to depict the view from the artist’s home. The use of bright, resonant colors to depict the moonlit night speaks to one of Takama’s greatest charms: his masterful use of color.
(YATSUYANAGI Sae)