Jake Lee, The Old Barn

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This artwork "The Old Barn" 1989 is a watercolor by noted Chinese/American artist Jake Lee, 1915-1991 It is inscribed Jake … Read more This artwork "The Old Barn" 1989 is a watercolor by noted Chinese/American artist Jake Lee, 1915-1991 It is inscribed Jake Lee and dated 89 on the back. The image size is 12 x 20.5 inches, framed is 21.5 x 29.5 inches. It is custom framed in a wooden gold frame, with gold color spacer and fabric matting. it is in excellent condition.

About the artist.

Jake Lee is emerging as the visual chronicler of the Chinese American past, especially the daily life in San Francisco Chinatown. No other artist, of any background, has presented that history as richly and as evocatively as Lee did in his many, striking compositions. Completed over a lifetime of work, Lee's paintings of historical sites, moments, and experiences give us an artistic vision.
For much of his life, Lee was known primarily as a commercial artist who completed arresting illustrations for travel magazines, greeting cards, and book jackets. He was an art teacher, with many students who learned the use of water-soluble pigments to depict the many landscapes of mid-20th century California. Less well-known were his representations of the many places historically linked to the Chinese of the state and the West. To this day, few in America know about Chinese work in the fisheries, in the early wine industry, in 19th century urban industry, and in the colorful cultural life of San Francisco in the years before the Great Earthquake. At a time when most Americans thought Chinese Americans had just been laundrymen, houseboys, or Charlie Chan, characters they saw on television.
As a visual historian, he connected us with the past, but foremost he was an artist. He presented appealing scenes for the visitor to San Francisco who wanted a visual memento. He mastered Western art techniques and visualizations, but also knew how to handle the Chinese ink brush, write Chinese calligraphy, and integrate the use of the Chinese brush with Western watercolors.
We need to understand him as the artist of Chinese America.
Jake Lee’s work is held in numerous collections in the San Francisco bay area and nationwide.
In 2011 a watercolor from this artist titled "View of Fisherman's Wharf" sold at auction for a record price of $18,000.00 See less