Itō Jakuchū

Painter and printmaker of the Middle Edo period. He studied the methods of the Kanō School, but soon became dissatisfied and began to turn to the works of the Chinese masters of the Song and Yuan periods for inspiration. He believed the true art of painting lay in the faithful representation of nature, excelling in depictions of plants and animals. His work is distinguished by bright colors, decorative patterns, and intense attention to detail.