Midway Fish Market

Artist Jake Lee (1915 - 1991)

Daten.d.

MediumWatercolor on paper

Dimensions14 x 22 in. (35.6 x 55.9 cm)

ClassificationsPainting

Credit LineThe Hilbert Collection

Object numberLee-5

DescriptionJake Lee, born in Guangzhou, China and raised in Monterey, Calif., began painting at an early age, depicting views of the Chinese communities in California and fishing docks near his home in Monterey. He studied art at San Jose State College and after taking a job as a commercial artist for a San Francisco newspaper, became friends with fellow Chinese American artist Dong Kingman. They spent a great deal of time painting together on location in the city and Lee credits Kingman as being an influential instructor and artistic inspiration to him.

By 1944, Lee was settled in Los Angeles and was exhibiting with the California Water Color Society. He worked as a commercial illustrator producing magazine covers, product advertisements, posters and children’s book illustrations. Most of these were done with watercolors or gouache on illustration board. For more than 40 years, he enjoyed a successful career in this field and still found plenty of time to paint and exhibit fine art watercolors. He was also an influential art instructor in Southern California.

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