“Outskirts,” created by Tsuguharu Foujita in 1951, is an exemplary piece from the Magic Realism movement and falls under the cityscape genre. The artwork features an urban scene, skillfully capturing the essence of a street lined with multi-story buildings and accented with a sense of daily life.
In this artwork, tall, architecturally varied buildings dominate the scene, their facades intricately detailed with balconies, windows, and signs of occupancy, such as laundry hanging and lights in some rooms. The street is alive with figures, portrayed in various activities, suggesting a snapshot of everyday life in a city. The presence of a flagpole adorned with a flag further emphasizes the urban setting. The overall mood is one of a somber yet lively environment, reflecting the quaint charm and bustling nature of the city’s outskirts.
