Artists of Edo (1800-1850)

This exhibition presents approximately 30 paintings and prints representing the distinctive styles of early 19th-century artists active in the large metropolis of Edo. Edo artists of the Kano and Sumiyoshi schools worked on commission for the shoguns and high-ranking patrons of the warrior and aristocratic class, while artists belonging to other schools (such as the Rimpa school) perfected simplified compositions and distinctive techniques. Among the works on view are paintings by artists, such as Tani Buncho, who studied and incorporated a variety of Chinese painting styles into their art. Hokusai (1760-1849), the most famous Japanese painter internationally, was a native of Edo whose original style in both paintings and prints was emulated by his many talented students. The exhibition includes the work of several of Hokusai's followers.