Both banks of Wu River

Beginning 1931, Ozawa served for three consecutive years on the jury panel of the Western painting division in the 5th, 6th, and 7th Taiwan Fine Art Exhibitions, entering his Taiwan landscapes in the shows. The light, graceful brushwork and rich colors were admired and emulated by younger Taiwanese painters such as Chen Ching-fen (a senior Taiwan painter). On visits to Taiwan, Ozawa would travel to all parts of the island, sketching and painting. In 1931, he and Wada Sanzo (1883-1967), a Japanese painter who also served on the jury panel of the Taiwan Fine Art Exhibition, visited Taroko Gorge, painting landscapes of the area. In 1932, Ozawa spent nine months in Taiwan, holding a solo exhibition during that time. In 1933, the Takao (Kaohsiung) prefectural government commissioned him to produce more than 30 oil paintings of area landscapes, including Shou Mountain, Siziwan Bay, Chihou, and Kaohsiung Harbor. While in Taiwan, Ozawa made friends with a Taichung Prefecture official, whom he gifted with "Both Banks of Wu River". In the picture, the Wu River Bridge links Wufeng and Caotun; the sturdy structure—a major transportation artery—is a symbol of modernization. The bridge bustles with traffic, automotive and pedestrian, the lively, lyrical brushstrokes creating a kind of fluid energy.