Ike no Taiga

Ike no Taiga (1723-1776), born to a father who was a low-ranking official in the Ginza district of Kyoto, Japan, lost his father at the age of 4. Despite financial hardship, he learned Chinese calligraphy and developed his talent, performing his calligraphy at Manpukuji Temple. Ryu Li Kyo (Yanagisawa Kien) recognized Taiga’s talent early on and supported him both materially and emotionally, helping him through his teenage years. His style varied from large screens depicting Chinese historical and famous sites to Japanese landscapes painted with witty and elegant brushstrokes. Taiga established his own style of painting by incorporating not only Chinese paintings but also Muromachi paintings, Rimpa school paintings, and Western paintings.