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🗾East Asian Art and Architecture

The Kano school dominated Japanese painting during the Momoyama period. These artists, like Kano Eitoku and Sanraku, created massive works for castles and palaces using bold brushstrokes and gold leaf backgrounds. Their style blended Chinese techniques with native Japanese aesthetics.

Kano painters excelled at large-scale architectural paintings and folding screens. They depicted popular subjects like scenes of Kyoto and used techniques like gold leaf to create opulent, immersive compositions. This style became the dominant artistic expression, influencing generations of Japanese artists.

Key Kano School Artists

Kano Eitoku (1543-1590)

  • Prominent Japanese painter of the Azuchi-Momoyama period who significantly influenced the development of the Kano school style
  • Served as the official painter for Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, two powerful warlords who unified Japan
  • Known for his large-scale, decorative paintings on walls, sliding doors (fusuma), and folding screens (byōbu) in castles and palaces
  • Created monumental compositions with bold, expressive brushstrokes and the extensive use of gold leaf backgrounds (Azuchi Castle)

Kano Sanraku (1559-1635)

  • Adopted son and student of Kano Eitoku who continued the Kano school tradition into the early Edo period
  • Served as the official painter for the Tokugawa shogunate and played a crucial role in establishing the Kano school's dominance in Japanese art
  • Maintained the monumental style and techniques of Eitoku while incorporating a more refined and elegant approach (Nijō Castle)
  • Trained numerous disciples, ensuring the continuation and further development of the Kano school style for generations

Painting Styles and Techniques

Traditional Japanese Painting Styles

  • Yamato-e: Native Japanese painting style that emerged in the late Heian period, characterized by its emphasis on narrative, decorative elements, and vibrant colors
  • Kano school artists adapted and incorporated elements of the Yamato-e style into their works, creating a unique fusion of traditional Japanese aesthetics and Chinese-inspired techniques

Architectural Painting Formats

  • Shōhekiga: Large-scale paintings on walls and sliding doors (fusuma) that became increasingly popular during the Azuchi-Momoyama period
    • Kano school artists were renowned for their skill in creating cohesive and immersive compositions that seamlessly integrated with the architecture (Azuchi Castle, Nijō Castle)
  • Byōbu-e: Folding screen paintings that served both functional and decorative purposes in aristocratic residences and palaces
    • Kano school artists excelled in creating dynamic and panoramic scenes that unfolded across multiple panels, often depicting landscapes, battles, or famous places (Maple Viewers)

Distinctive Kano School Techniques

  • Gold leaf backgrounds: Extensive use of gold leaf (kinpaku) to create luminous and opulent backgrounds, a hallmark of the Kano school style during the Azuchi-Momoyama period
    • The reflective quality of the gold leaf added depth, grandeur, and a sense of luxury to the paintings (Azuchi Castle, Nijō Castle)
  • Monumental composition: Kano school artists were skilled in creating large-scale, imposing compositions that commanded attention and conveyed power and authority
    • They often employed strong diagonal lines, dramatic perspectives, and bold contrasts to create a sense of movement and dynamism (Battle of Sekigahara screens)
  • Kanō school style: A distinctive painting style that combined elements of Chinese ink painting (suibokuga) with the native Yamato-e style, characterized by powerful brushstrokes, rich colors, and a focus on landscape and figurative subjects
    • This style became the dominant artistic expression in Japan during the Azuchi-Momoyama and early Edo periods, influencing generations of artists (Cypress Tree, Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons)

Rakuchū-rakugai-zu (Scenes In and Around Kyoto)

  • A popular genre of painting that depicted famous landmarks, daily life, and seasonal events in and around the capital city of Kyoto
  • Kano school artists created numerous rakuchū-rakugai-zu on folding screens and sliding doors, showcasing their skill in capturing the essence of the city and its surroundings
    • These paintings served as visual records of the urban landscape and provided insight into the cultural, social, and political life of the time (Festivals of the Twelve Months, Kyoto Festivals)
  • Often included meticulous depictions of architecture, such as palaces, temples, and shrines, as well as natural features like rivers, mountains, and gardens (Kyoto Landscapes)
  • Depicted people from various social classes engaged in daily activities, festivals, and rituals, offering a glimpse into the vibrant and diverse life of the capital city (Gion Festival, Kamo River Boating)


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© 2025 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.