Flowers and Sea

Kobori Susumu was born in what is now Itako City, Ibaraki Prefecture, near the border of Chiba Prefecture, and he grew up in Chiba. He dedicated himself to elevating the status of watercolor painting and, in 1974, became the first watercolor artist elected as a member of the Japan Art Academy. This painting was completed the same year. Kobori was extremely fond of painting scenes of the Boso region, and this particular work depicts a field of flowers and the sea in Shiramazu, Minamiboso City, Chiba. Shiramazu faces the Pacific and has a mild, spring-like climate even in winter, with numerous flowers blooming. The composition contrasts the dark blue expanse of sky and sea, with its sweeping horizon, and the delicate hues of the flowers rendered with a light touch, evoking a sense of hope amid desolation. A bold, simplified composition showcases Kobori’s artistic maturity. (M.N.)