“The Man With a Whip, Whipping” depicts a man riding a
horse and wielding a whip against a background of
smoke-spewing buildings, using curving lines. In the
background, a group of people are being chased away from their homes. (“The World of Art: Independent Artists and Others”, Times,
1925 March 15)
Among the exhibitions by Japanese artists, the one making
the most striking impression was “Man with a Whip” by
Eitaro Ishigaki. One could say it has caught the “American
rhythm” with its repeating curves and the snap into tem of
acute angles. The American rhythm is not yet ready for
analysis or classification or illustration, but this Japanese
artist certainly has put grace and strength into the cubistic
form of his rider, a curling force into the lash of his whip,
fiery animation into the head and elongated neck of his
horse. Orderly pecked excitement into his crowd, a sense
of energy controlled and the beauty of controlled energy
into his whole composition—and that is enough for the first
impression of any picture. (“The World of Art: Independent Artists and Others”, Times, 1925 March 15. )
The New York Shimpo, on the other hand, wrote, “I drew
this picture inspired by Marx’s theory of the class struggle.”
(Eitaro Ishigaki, “Colorful Art Exhibition: Sixteen Japanese
Exhibitors Boldly and Freely Radiate the Sting and
Individuality of Vigorous Vitality and Strong Colors,” New
York Shimpo, March 11, 1925).
