Daybreak

The Japanese title of the work, Shin, is a term for the time of transition from wee hours to early morning. This painting captures a radiant moment at a lakeside shrouded in morning mist, imbuing the scene with a fantastical air. While working on the painting, Seki Chikara visited the site numerous times, refining the theme through persistent sketching. He depicted ephemeral changes in the natural landscape over several days, focusing some days on line work and others on color. By the time he embarked on the final painting, he felt he had fully internalized all of the necessary elements. Seki was born in Chonan Town, Chosei County, Chiba and was a pupil of Nakamura Gakuryo at Tokyo Fine Arts School. Later, residing in Funabashi City, he continued his artistic activities, holding positions such as director of the Nitten (Japan Fine Arts Exhibition) and member of the Japan Art Academy. (N.R.)