Abstract

Jakuchū, Rosetsu, Hokusai… Why couldn’t they stop painting?
How were the masterpieces you must see before you die brought into being?
What was the true nature of the “creative power” of these geniuses of Edo?

The painters featured in this book were all extraordinary individuals who defied common sense. Each lived a life full of dramatic twists and turns.
Despite enduring hardships that would be impossible for most people to overcome, they produced works of art that would be remembered for generations.
—From the Introduction

[Featured Painters]
Rosetsu Nagasawa – “A painter envied for his talent, who met a mysterious death”
Jakuchū Itō – “Astonishing focus and concentration”
Katsushika Hokusai – “A mad painter who kept creating until his death”
Gyōsai Kawanabe – “The man who sought to illuminate people’s hearts through painting”
Hōitsu Sakai – “A lonely painter masquerading as a playboy”
Shōhaku Soga – “A solitary hard worker disguised as a rogue”
Utamaro Kitagawa – “The enigmatic rebellious painter”
Sōtatsu Tawaraya – “A self-made master”
Kōrin Ogata – “A man whose talent bloomed after a life of indulgence”
Hiroshige Utagawa – “A painter whose sensitivity was honed by misfortune”
Sansetsu Kano – “A painter feared for his talent”
Matabei Iwasa – “Surviving the chaos of the Sengoku era”

[Special Feature]
Jūzaburō Tsutaya – “The man who risked everything to bring Sharaku into the world”

Author’s Information

Owner of the Crystal Gallery apia, specializing in Japanese art. Based in Kyoto. Graduated from the Department of English and English Literature, Kyoto Notre Dame University, and the Department of Japanese Literature, Doshisha University.
With 20 years of collecting experience, she can authenticate early modern Japanese paintings, including works by Jakuchu, Okyo, Shohaku, Rosetsu, and the Rinpa school. This book is her first publication.