Background
Tosa Mitsuoki was born on November 21, 1617 in Sakai, Japan. He was the son of Tosa Mitsunori.
Tosa Mitsuoki was born on November 21, 1617 in Sakai, Japan. He was the son of Tosa Mitsunori.
In 1634, Mitsuoki settled down in Kyoto, where he hoped to revive the Tosa school. In 1654, he was appointed a court painter, a position, that had traditionally been given to members of the Tosa family, but had been vacant since the end of the Muromachi period (1338–1573).
During his lifetime, Mitsuoki produced a number of paintings for walls and fusuma (shohekiga), and also worked as a court painter in other capacities. Studying the Academic bird-and-flower paintings of Li Anzhong, he became quite proficient at delicate depictions of birds. Taking in elements of the style of the Kano school, he was also widely active in producing handscrolls, byobu paintings, hanging scroll paintings and works in other formats.
In 1681 he made his son Tosa Mitsunari (1646–1710) successor to his office and took the tonsure (became a Buddhist monk).
Illustration of the Genji Monogatari (Asagao, The Blue Bell)
Cherry trees
Night March of a Hundred Demons (detail)
Night March of a Hundred Demons (left half)
Illustration of the Genji Monogatari (Asagao, The Blue Bell)
Illustration of the Genji Monogatari (Wakamurasaki)
Illustration of the Genji Monogatari (The Perfumed Prince)
Birds and flowers in spring and autumn
Landscape around Ishiyama-dera and Lake Biwa
Flowering Cherry with Poem Slips
Quail and Chrysanthemums
Murasaki Shikibu (detail)
Autumn Maples with Poem Slips
Night March of a Hundred Demons (detail)