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- With prolonged peace and strong patronage during the Edo period, painting as a whole made unprecedented progress as can be seen in the large number of different schools that were established by various masters. A new phase of Japanese yamato-e or traditional style emerged in the brilliant and daring decorative achievements of the Rimpa school, especially the spectacular folding screens with gold and silver leaf backgrounds. The main themes were scenes from Japanese classical literature, and flower and plant paintings. The school was founded by Honami Koetsu (1558-1637) and Nonomura Sotatsu (?-1643?), who were both from upper-class Kyoto merchant families. The school reached its greatest prominence thanks to the works of Ogata Korin (1658-1716) and his brother Ogata Kenzan (1663-1743), a ceramist. The bold pictorial designs of the Rimpa school artists stood out in artistic merit and originality compared to all other schools of the Edo period.
By the 18th century, the pendulum once again swung back to China. Chinese scholar painters (wenren) of the Ming and Qing dynasties had developed an individualistic manner of painting known as the literati style. Japanese painters began producing works in this style called Literati (bunjinga) or Southern (nanga) school paintings. It became the art of cultured amateurs who were well-versed in Chinese
OPPOSITE
30 Yamato-e Tradition of Tosa School (c. 1600)
Shokunin Zukushi-e (Pictures of the Various Occupations) / Shokunin Zukushi-e (illustration des diverses occupations)
Six-panel screen, detail of one panel: a textile dyer Ink and colour on paper
31. Ryotai Tatebe (1719-74)
Three Fugu (globefish) /
Trois Fugu (poissons-globes) Album leaf mounted as - hanging scroll, ink on paper
Ryotai was born into a noble family in Aomori Prefecture. He became a well-respected poet and painter.
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