photo:Tsuneo Horide

Jakuchū Itō (1716～1800)
was a painter in Kyoto in the mid-Edo period.
Jakuchū is well known as a most representative painters of Edo art, due to his eccentric motifs which had never been seen in Japanese painting before and unique composition of his paintings. His name is “Jokin” and his characters are “Keiwa”. He was also known as “Tobei-an,” “Beito-o,” “Shin’en-kan,” and “Nishikigai-koji. He was born as the eldest son of “Masuya”, a wholesaler of green grocery in Nishiki-koji, Kyoto, and took over the family business upon his father’s death at the age of 23.At the age of 40, he passed the reigns to his younger brother, Hakusai, and devoted himself to painting.In the mid-Edo period in Kyoto, his unique style of painting was unique and highly acclaimed.After the Great Fire of Kyoto in 1788, he temporarily stayed in Osaka, but spent the last years of his life in hiding in front of Obakuji Temple in Fukakusa, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto.

Shōhaku Soga (1730~1781)
was a painter of the mid-Edo period. Many of his works are around Ise region where he was traveling in his 30s.He called himself a descendant of Soga group, and the theme of his paintings was based on Chinese history.Shōhaku learn about painting from Takada Keiho, whose works are famous for the fancifulness.

Ōkyo Maruyama (1733～1795)
was a painter of the mid and late Edo period. He leart about how to paint from some Chinase and European paintings.His delicate art style let him establish his own group which is the origin of modern arts in Kyōto.

Rosetsu Nagasawa (1754～1799)
was born in Hyōgo prefecture. He was studying under Maruyama Ōkyo when he was in his 20s.From 1786 to 1787, when he was traveling around Wakayama, he drew a lot of art which still remain on the walls of some temples around there.He passed away in Ōsaka.