Tō Kyūjō

Place: Kyoto

Born: 1546

Death: 1616

Biography:

Tô Kyûjo (東久城) was a Japanese painter born in Kyoto in 1546 and died in 1616. He was a master of the Tosa school, a lineage of Japanese painters who were the official painters of the Imperial Court. He was the son of Tosa Mitsunobu, the founder of the Tosa school, and the father of Tosa Mitsumoto, who succeeded him as head of the school. Tô Kyûjo was known for his elegant and refined style, which was influenced by Chinese painting. He was particularly skilled in depicting birds and flowers, and his works are characterized by their delicate brushwork and subtle coloring. He was also known for his skill in calligraphy. Tô Kyûjo was a prolific painter and his works can be found in many museums and private collections in Japan and around the world. He was one of the most important painters of the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1573-1603) and is considered one of the greatest masters of the Tosa school.