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Early Modern

Maruyama Okyo / Turtles playing under the setting sun
A mother and her baby turtles playing leisurely together. The Japanese pond turtle is now designated as an endangered species, but it seems that in the Edo period it was kept as a pet. In the past, it may have been possible to see many of them in nearby rivers.
Nagasawa Rosetsu / Sparrows with wisteria
A sparrow calmly watches from below as the two sparrows above seem to be having fun. At first glance, this is a beautiful painting of a bird and flower called "Sparrows with wisteria," but it is in these details that Rosetsu's playful spirit can be felt.
Tokugawa Yoshimune / Two hanging scrolls of Daruma and a little bird
Yoshimune is known as the founder of the Edo Shogunate, but in contrast to his brilliant work, the paintings he created are surprisingly simple and even endearing. The box inscription is by Katsu Kaishu.
Ishikawa Tairo / Two hanging scrolls of Tiger and Dragon
Although this dragon and tiger painting follows the style of the Kano school, the expression of each face shows its originality. The tiger's face seems to express its strong will to win, which is very appealing.
Asai Ryuto / Tiger howling under a pine tree
Though it is roaring towards the sky, what a troubled expression this tiger has. Contrary to the powerful brushstrokes of the pine trees and rocks, the tiger's body is soft and limp, giving it an almost plush toy-like cuteness.
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Nagasawa Rosetsu / Bamboo and Stone with Turtle
In Rosetsu's works, occasionally exquisite compositions emerge. In one instance, a turtle snugly fits into the foreground's margin, creating a slightly mysterious composition. Rosetsu's approach involves pushing elements into the painting without concern if they might overflow, capturing a sense of freedom from conventional concepts and a joyous, uninhibited enjoyment of painting.
Kano Tanshin / Two hanging scrolls of climbing carp
Tanshin, the seventh generation of the Kajibashi Kano school, studied under his ancestor Tan'yu in order to rebuild his family.
Kano Tsunenobu / Two hanging scrolls of Tiger and Dragon
This painting of a dragon and a tiger is inspired by a passage from "I Ching(易経)", which says, "When a dragon sings, clouds arise; when a tiger roars, wind blows."
Sou Shizan / The tiger
Sou Shizan, who specialized in flower, bird, and landscape paintings, learned his craft from his father, Shiseki, and was active as a painter of the Nanpin school. While there are many paintings of tigers in the world, such a bold composition is rare, and one can feel the artist's overflowing energy in this work.
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Mori Sosen / Monkeys
This is a work that could only have been created by Sosen, who secluded himself in the mountains and observed the monkeys while living like them.
Watanabe Nangaku / Children playing with rabbits
Although European rabbits were introduced to Japan during the Muromachi period (1336-1573), albino rabbits were first seen in the painting done by Nangaku's teacher, Maruyama Okyo, in 1784 in the Edo period.
Ukita Ikkei / Setting sun and a flock of crows
Ukita Ikkei is also known as Tomioka Tessai's master of Yamato-e painting. This work vividly depicts a flock of crows.
Yamamoto Koitsu / Four seasons, Flowers and Birds, A pair of medium size six-panel folding screens
Yamamoto Koitsu was a central figure in The First Japanese Manufacturing and Trading Company (起立工商会社) and created many drafts for the company's production.
Kano Yasunobu / Two hanging scrolls of a cat and a rabbit
Is this a cat or a rabbit? This is a work that seems to generate a Zen-like question.
Tokugawa Tsunayoshi / Red-billed Blue Magpie
This work was painted by the fifth shogun, Tsunayoshi, who is known for issuing the Edicts on Compassion for Living Things (Shōruiawareminorei).
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Matsumura Keibun / Pine tree, Taihu stone and monkeys
Although the work depicts a relaxed scene, there is something humorous about the two monkeys staring at each other with stern expressions.
Mori Ippo / The carp
This work was exhibited at the exhibition "Real-The Most Oddity" held at the Fuchu Art Museum in 2018.
Mori Tetsuzan / A rabbit in Autumn
Mori Tetsuzan was an expert at painting animals, and he accurately captured the characteristics of the rabbit with his brush.
Kishi Renzan / Tiger and Dragon
A dragon soaring through the sky and a tiger roaring on a rugged cliff. The tiger's expression is full of realistic fierceness.
Cho Gessho / Cranes dance in the sunlight
Three cranes are flying in the golden sky. It is a celebratory scroll suitable for New Year's Day.
Nagasawa Rosetsu / Three Japanese Cranes
The birds that Rosetsu painted seem to be drawn freely with the brush, and many of them have very humorous expressions. The more you look at this painting, the more you will appreciate it.
Kano Chikanobu / Willow and a swallow
The swallow's chin feathers look fluffy and soft, making it appear adorable.
Kaneko Kinryo / Monkeys playing with bees
The plants and animals painted by Kaneko Kinryo, the teacher of Watanabe Kazan and Tsubaki Chinzan, are full of unique charm and a sense of depth.
Yamaoka Tesshu / Beckoning cat and Calligraphy
Since Tesshu found profound meanings in cat's behavior, beckoning cats may have been somewhat close to him.
Center) Hanabusa Itcho / Left and right) Ko Sukoku / 3 hanging scrolls of Cherry blossoms, Waniguchi swallow, and Autumn leaves
The work in the center was pained by Hanabusa Itcho, and the works on the left and right were pained by Ko Sukoku, who studied under Sawaki Suushi, a disciple of Itcho.
Mori Sosen / Hirsute Raspberries and a monkey
Sosen, who excelled in painting monkeys, is said to have spent several years observing monkeys in the mountains and fields. This is a heartwarming piece depicting a monkey engrossed in eating Hirsute Raspberries.
Kano Seisen’in / The carp climbing a waterfall
The splashes of water are expressed with a misting technique, creating a sense of rhythm on the screen.
Watanabe Kaiko / Peacocks under the Pine, A half of four-panel folding screen
The Watanabe family, village headmen of Suga in Nishi Ward, Niigata City, were active over three generations which include Tanchi, the family's fifth generation and Kaiko's father who studied under Matsumura Keibun, the sixth generation Kaiko, and his son Etsuzan, the seventh generation.
Hine Taizan / An Egret in a Lotus Pond
Taizan excelled at landscape painting, but he also captured the vivid figures of living creatures in his flower-and-bird paintings.
Maruyama Okyo / A heron with willow trees in the rain
The pale, light ink used in the painting creates the feeling of the humid atmosphere of a rainy day.
Hirowatari Ganpi（Kosyu）/ Mother and child cranes with pine trees
This work was exhibited at the "Cute Edo Paintings" exhibition held at the Fuchu Art Museum in 2013. The generous brushwork and soft colors create a heartwarming scene of the parent and child.
Kishi Renzan / Tiger roaring under the moon
The tiger painting by Renzan, the third generation of the Kishi school, gives the impression of tiger's solid frame under the cover of its fluffy fur.
Matumura Keibun / Willow and a bush warbler
It is painted in a single color of ink, but gives the feeling of early spring.
Muromachi-Momoyama period / Plum and three wise monkeys
"The three wise monkeys" are a Japanese pictorial maxim, embodying the proverbial principle "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil (mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru)". This work was painted during the Muromachi period.
Yoshimura Kokei / 3 hanging scrolls of Cranes, a Turtle and Jurojin
Yoshimura Kokei, one of the Ten Excellent Painters of the Okyo School, is known for developing the more advanced style of Okyo's realism.
Hazama Seigai / Two hanging scrolls of a thousand Cranes and Turtles
Hazama Seigai is also known as the teacher of Matsuura Shodo, a Choshu clan patriot who graduated from Shokasonjuku Academy. This painting features numerous cranes and turtles.
Haruki Nanmei / A deer under the moon
Nanmei had a gentle personality and many patrons, and it is said that Yamauchi Yodo, the lord of the Tosa domain, favored Nanmei so much that he had him live next door to his villa. This work was painted when Nanmei was 81 years old.
Kankeko Kinryo / Joyful sparrows, plum blossoms, and confederate roses
Kaneko Kinryo was skilled in flower-and-bird paintings in The Nanpin style of painting. The three sparrows have different, adorable expressions. This work was painted in 1794.
Yamamoto Baiitsu / Red peach blossoms with two swallows
Swallows migrate to Japan with the arrival of spring. In this work, they are depicted together with peach blossoms, creating a scent of spring on the screen.
Matsumura Keibun / Peach blossoms and a small bird
The plump-looking Eurasian bullfinch is attractive. It appears that they love flower buds, and will even pluck off buds that are just starting to open. This work was exhibited at the "Edo-Painting Drawing Class" held at the Fuchu Art Museum in 2023.
Maruyama Okyo / Persimmons and a warbling white-eye
The transparent expression of the persimmon makes it look fresh and delicious. The dynamic brushwork and the splendid composition are impressive. This work was exhibited at the "Edo-Painting Drawing Class" held at the Fuchu Art Museum in 2023.
Tani Buncho / Reeds and a wild goose
Buncho seems to have captured the exact moment when the wild goose landed on the pond and painted it with great vigor in a short amount of time.
Kano Takanobu / Carp climbing up a waterfall
Kano Takanobu studied under Isen'in and worked on painting of the sliding screens of Edo Castle as an official painter for the Edo Shogunate. Compared to the precise expression of the carp, the depiction of the splashes of water is more stylized and unique.
Okubo Ikkyu / Sparrows and Snow covered Nanten tree
Okubo Ikkyu was an official painter for the Yokosuka Domain and is said to have been influenced by Western-style painting. This work also has elements of Western-style miniature painting.
Azuma Toyo / Flying swallows under the waterfall
Azuma Toyo is counted among the four great painters of Sendai. His depiction of swiftly flying swallows shows the influence of Maruyama Okyo.
Kano Eishuku / The ryumon
This is a dynamic painting based on the story of the Dragon Gate by Eishuku, the ninth generation of the Kano school. The carp's expression is so lively and that evokes pleasant feeling to you just looking at it.
Tosa Mitsuoki / 3 Hanging scrolls of rising sun and quails
Mitsuoki, a representative painter of the Tosa school in the Edo period, was especially known as a master of quail paintings.
Kano Yasunobu / Tigers with bamboo
Apparently, for Yasunobu, the ink painting that requires the delicate expression was hard to deal with, but the tiger he painted is very attractive.
Mori Ippo / Hakuzosu(The fox spirit) under the moon
Hakuzosu is said to be a fox spirit disguised as a monk. Hakuzosu stands alone in a withered autumn field. Looking up at the moon, what is he thinking?
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Mori Sosen / A deer
As expected from Sosen, who specialized in painting monkeys, his expression of the texture of the stiff fur is superb.
Kishi Renzan / Family of tigers under the pine tree
This is a tiger painting with strong eyes, but the overall image is somewhat cute. Tigers of this era were drawn from the imagination, so apart from the pattern on its back, it has a very cat-like appearance.
Kano Chikanobu / A horned owl with the old tree
The Chinese name for this owl "Tsuku" means "arboreal rabbit", and it is said it is because the owl's horn-like feathers resemble the long ears of a rabbit. Although owls have a dignified appearance, the owl depicted in this work has full of cuteness that is unique to Edo animal paintings.
Yoshimura Kokei / A Japanese Bush Warbler on a willow tree
A Japanese Bush Warbler is resting on a willow tree that has not yet budded. It was painted by Yoshimura Kokei, one of Maruyama Okyo's ten famous pupils.
Painted by Hara Zaichu,inscription by Reizei Tamenori / Playing Turtles
It's hard not to smile when you see the turtles waking up from a long hibernation and enjoying a leisurely swim.
Kishi Chikudou / Frozen willows shining at sunrise
It beautifully expresses the icy cold scenery is slowly melting in the morning sun.
Ganku / Tiger
At the time, tigers were generally depicted from the imagination, but it is said that Ganku obtained a tiger skull from a Chinese merchant and covered it with tiger skin before sketching.
Matsudaira Fumai / Horse
It is a vivid depiction of a horse galloping happily. Lord Fumai, a feudal lord and tea master, was skilled in calligraphy, painting, waka poetry, and pottery.
Mori Sosen / Monkey playing with bamboo
Among Sosen's monkeys, this one is drawn with a dynamic energy, almost like a sketch. His keen insight into the monkey's quick movements is truly impressive.
Matsumura Keibun / Two birds flying over the waves
His skill to express waves with just a single brush stroke of ink is truly outstanding. Two plovers flying around under the moonlight. The depiction of the quiet waves invites a sense of tranquility, so quiet that you can almost hear the sound of their wings.
Garden landscapes of Spring and Autumn, A pair of six-panel folding screens painted in Mid-Edo period
Although the artist is unknown, these are the excellent Edo-period animal painting screens. The balance between the heavy background and the intricately drawn birds is beautiful and mysteriously charming.

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