Japanese artists in portrait

Here we introduce the Japanese artists whose works we carry at Densho - painters of the Nihonga and Nanga tradition as well as ceramicists from Bizen, Hagi or Oribe. The portraits range from the Edo period to contemporary craftspeople and cover career, style and recurring motifs. Learn more about the techniques and traditions behind them under Knowledge.

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ArtistsSaegusa SokōSaegusa Sokō (三枝素光) was a Nihonga painter of the Taishō period. He exhibited at the Bunten and the Teiten, the state-sponsored annual exhibitions.View topic
ArtistsMatsuda KizanSecond-generation ceramicist in the Minō-yaki tradition of Osaka, known for earthy-red Akashin-yaki tea vessels in the wabi-sabi style.View topic
ArtistsSuma TaisuiSuma Taisui (須磨対水, 1868–1955) shaped the Ōsaka painting circle from the Taishō through the Shōwa era. The peony on the label of the Gokushun sake is his work.View topic
ArtistsKanō NaonobuKanō Naonobu (狩野尚信, 1607–1650) was a court painter to the shogunate and founded the line of the Kanō school that later became known as the Kobikichō house.View topic
ArtistsHirose TōhōHirose Tōhō (広瀬東畝, 1875–1930) came from Kōchi and became a student of Araki Kanpō. In 1904 he received a silver medal at the World's Fair in St. Louis.View topic
ArtistsYoshida ShūkōYoshida Shūkō (吉田秋光, 1887–1946) was a student of Matsuoka Eikyū and founded the Nihon Gain in 1938 together with Itō Shinsui.View topic
ArtistsGanryōGanryō (岸良, 1798–1852) was a painter of the Kishi school in Kyōto. As son-in-law of the school's founder Kishi Ganku, he helped carry the school forward after his death.View topic
ArtistsImai KeijuImai Keiju (今井景樹) studied under Imao Keinen and became his adopted son. His focus was on flower-and-bird painting.View topic
ArtistsHirose HakuenHirose Hakuen (広瀬柏園) was a painter of the Edo period with ties to the Enman-in at Miidera in Ōmi Province.View topic
ArtistsSugaya HosenPainter and calligrapher of the Ichigakai artists' association, known for elegant depictions of the Gods of Fortune and the classic "Four Gentlemen."View topic
ArtistsTaniuchi SeiganTaniuchi Seigan (谷内清巌) was a priest of the Shingon school at Jingo-ji near Kyōto. His calligraphy stands in the esoteric, not the Zen tradition.View topic
ArtistsŌtsuka ShunreiŌtsuka Shunrei (大塚春嶺, born 1861) was a Nihonga painter from Sonobe. He studied the Maruyama-Shijō painting style under Fukada Chokujō and history painting under Taniguchi Kōkyō.View topic
ArtistsFujii KaidōFujii Kaidō (藤井誡堂, 1898–1984) was the 515th abbot of Daitoku-ji and abbot of Sangen-in. His bokuseki are part of the core body of tea calligraphy.View topic
ArtistsMori YūzanMori Yūzan (森雄山, 1869–1917) created with the pattern book Hamonshū one of the best-known collections of Japanese wave patterns.View topic
ArtistsTakebe HakuhōTakebe Hakuhō (武部白鳳, born 1871) was a painter of the Shijō school in Ōsaka. He studied at the Naniwa painting school under Nishiyama Kan'ei and was known for his landscapes.View topic
ArtistsKikuchi YōsaiKikuchi Yōsai (菊池容斎, 1788–1878) was a history painter who created "Zenken Kojitsu," a ten-volume work with 571 portraits of historical figures.View topic
ArtistsGyokusha ShunkiGyokusha Shunki (玉舎春輝) was a Japanese Nihonga painter whose works are devoted to the depiction of animals and nature.View topic
ArtistsKanō ZuisenKanō Zuisen (狩野随川) was an artist name of the Kanō school, used by two brothers of the Hamachō house.View topic
ArtistsUeda GizanUeda Gizan (上田義山, d. 1972) was the 510th abbot of Daitoku-ji and abbot of Kōtō-in. His bokuseki are part of the core body of tea calligraphy.View topic
ArtistsHashimoto GahōHashimoto Gahō (橋本雅邦, 1835–1908) led the Kanō tradition into the modern era. He headed the painting department of the Tōkyō School of Fine Arts and trained the leading Nihonga painters.View topic
ArtistsYamauchi KōsetsuYamauchi Kōsetsu (山内香雪, 1799–1860) was a calligrapher, poet, and literati painter of the late Edo period. He came from the Aizu samurai class and studied under Ichikawa Beian.View topic
ArtistsTosa MitsusadaTosa Mitsusada (土佐光貞, 1738–1806) was a painter of the Tosa school and head of the imperial painting bureau. The branch line he founded surpassed the family's main line.View topic
ArtistsSuzuki ShōnenSuzuki Shōnen (鈴木松年, 1848–1918) was regarded as the "Shōhaku of the present" for his powerful ink work. He was Uemura Shōen's first teacher.View topic
ArtistsUnkoku TōbanUnkoku Tōban (雲谷等璠, 1635–1724) headed the main house of the Unkoku school. He regarded himself as Sesshū in the sixth generation.View topic

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