Ito Jakuchu

Ito Jakuchu (1716-1800) was a Japanese painter from the mid-Edo period, known for his unique style that combined traditional techniques with innovative expression. His works, with their vivid colors and detailed depictions, fully express the vitality and beauty of plants and animals. In particular, many of his works feature birds and flowers, and their bold compositions and sense of color overwhelm the viewer.

Biography of Ito Jakuchu

• He was born on March 1, 1716, to a family of vegetable wholesalers in Kyoto.
• While taking over the family business, he taught himself painting.
• He was influenced by Chinese Song and Yuan paintings as well as Western paintings, and established his own unique style.
• He left behind works in a wide range of genres , including animal and plant paintings, flower and bird paintings, landscape paintings, and figure paintings.
• He died in Kyoto on October 27, 1800 (aged 84).

Representative works

• Colorful Realm of Living Beings (1757-1766)
• "Birds, Animals, Flowers and Trees Screen"
• "Rooster in the Snow"
• "Chinese Insects' Record"

Jakuchu's style and achievements

Jakuchu's works are characterized by a unique style that combines realism and decorativeness. He observed his subjects in detail and accurately captured their characteristics, while also using bold compositions and vivid colors to give his paintings a sense of dynamism and vitality.

His representative work, "Dobutsusai-e" (Colorful Scenery of Animals and Plants), is a 30-panel folding screen painting featuring chickens, peacocks, fish, insects, plants, etc. painted in vivid colors and intricately. This work is highly regarded as a masterpiece that combines traditional Japanese painting techniques, the realism of Western painting, and Jakuchu's unique imagination.

Jakuchu breathed fresh air into the world of painting in the Edo period, and his unique works had a major influence on later Japanese painting schools , such as the Rinpa and Maruyama schools . His works continue to fascinate many people even today with their beauty and originality .