Painting Along the Way: Chen Chin, Taiwan's First Female Painter

　　"On the Canvas" invites readers into the life and art of Chen Chin, Taiwan's first female artist to study in Japan. Through the intertextuality of images and the soft, rich texture akin to nihonga paintings, this book is both a tribute to her art and a profound gaze into time, color, and soul. Breaking away from the conventions of traditional biographical picture books, it uses a fantastical yet delicate touch to transform Chen Chin's creative journey into a gentle, time-traveling adventure.

　　On a spring morning, with cherry blossoms in full bloom, a car slowly ascends to a mountaintop studio... The mountains, rivers, and flora along the way symbolize the passage of time, while the women in the car chat and reminisce, sharing stories of meeting Chen Chin, learning to paint, and growing up amidst the myriad floral shadows. The book portrays the artist's dedication to art, the deep affection of her subjects for their creator, and the unwavering courage and brilliance of women in the currents of their era.

　　As the scenery outside the window changes and the pages of time turn, from the Japanese colonial period to the post-war era, we look back at Chen Chin's life—her journey to Japan to learn nihonga techniques, her emergence at the Teiten Exhibition, and her struggles and challenges amidst the changing standards of the post-war art scene. Whether in prosperity or solitude, she always responded to the world with focus and passion, expressing her emotions through color, allowing her paintings to radiate a clear yet elegant light.

　　This book is dedicated to all readers who love art and cherish dreams—witness how a woman conversed with her era through her brush on a journey intertwined with color and time, reflecting the immortal light of Taiwanese art and the spirit of women.

Features of this Book

　　★ A tribute to Taiwan's first female artist
　　From enlightenment during the Japanese colonial period to transformations after the war, Chen Chin consistently adhered to her creative vision and personal style. Her brush not only depicted the beauty of women but also recorded the power of Taiwanese women of her time.

　　★ A stunning cross-disciplinary fusion of literature and art
　　Written by award-winning author Ruo-Xun Cheng and illustrated by Ragazzi Award winner Zih-Jyun Chang, the text and images echo each other, layered to create the warm texture and delicate emotions akin to nihonga.

　　★ A fantastical narrative that subverts traditional biographies
　　Follow the bus as it slowly advances, traversing flora and the flow of time, entering Chen Chin's creative world; it doesn't focus on biographical events but reconstructs Chen Chin's life in a poetic and imaginative way—reading like a dream, and like a painting.

　　★ An inspirational book for children and adults
　　Each page sparkles with the focus and perseverance of creation, inspiring readers to discover the power of "being oneself" and to ponder "how to genuinely engage with the world," leading them on a pictorial journey to pursue beauty and freedom.

Highly Recommended By

　　Wang Hsin-He｜Curator
　　Lee To-Tzu｜Author of "Before the Dawn"
　　Bo-Sen｜Poet
　　Peng Su-Hua｜Golden Tripod Award winning author
　　Hsiao Cheng-Chia｜Director of Chen Chin Museum

　　◆ As a fan of Chen Chin, I adore her meticulous attention to detail in elements like clothing, ornaments, and patterns. Zih-Jyun has also embedded the artist's pursuit of detail in her illustrations. Turning the pages of the book feels like a treasure hunt, glancing around, and it brings back wonderful memories of the original paintings. ──Wang Hsin-He｜Curator

　　◆ Chen Chin, famous for her美人畫 (bijin-ga or "pictures of beautiful women"), actually created figures not out of thin air, but from life, truly existing individuals. Imagine, if the beautiful women, each with their own story in the paintings, were to meet on a journey, what kind of scene would that be? ──Lee To-Tzu｜Author of "Before the Dawn"

　　◆ It is often said that women possess a subtle yet powerful spirit, as if they can transform everything into energy. That is precisely the inner feeling I experience when viewing Chen Chin's works. Through Zih-Jyun's paintings, the two engage in a dialogue, once again leading us into Chen Chin's world, listening to the paintings, and listening to the cries of the era. ──Bo-Sen｜Poet

　　◆ In a fantastical way, combining elements of a road trip, the book takes readers on an unwitting journey through time and space, revealing how Taiwan's first female artist, Chen Chin, with perseverance and courage, forged her own path in an art world dominated by men and amidst the changing times. Reading it leaves one feeling both gentle and impassioned. ──Peng Su-Hua｜Golden Tripod Award winning author
　　(Listed in order of number of strokes in surname)

　　＊Recommended age: 4-7 for parent-child reading; 8+ for independent reading
　　＊No Zhuyin (phonetic symbols)