Chen Chin

Chen Chin learned her painting skills in Japan, where it is known as Nihonga, a Japanese painting style. In Meditation, a young woman is shown seated in profile, deep in thought. Her vivid, expressive gaze—unusual in traditional Nihonga—became a hallmark of Chen’s portraits of women. In Out in the Fields, Chen captured the warmth of 1930s domestic life through graceful figures, gentle gestures, and a blend of traditional and modern fashion. The lush flowers and balanced composition highlight her refined technique.
    Born in 1907 and trained in Tokyo, Chen painted elegant women whose style and presence came to symbolize a Taiwan in search of its identity. Though her works are calm and restrained, they often conceal personal struggles. Through them, she expressed quiet strength—a longing for freedom and a new role for women in a rapidly changing world.