Ito Jakuchu 伊藤若冲

伊藤若冲 Ito Jakuchu (1716-1800)
Painter of the middle and late Edo period. Studied the Kano school at first. After studying Chinese painting and the style of 尾形光琳 Ogata Korin, he developed his own style, which was based on realism with a decorative touch. He is almost entirely self-taught. He excelled in flower-and-bird paintings, especially chickens. Along with his painstakingly and meticulously detailed color paintings with superb technique, Jakuchu's free and playful Suiboku (ink paintings) also clearly show the charm of his paintings. Especially in his Suiboku (ink and wash paintings), it is said that he often painted impromptu, which is why we can see some of his unique techniques and humor in his works.