biography of a noted artist
kanō naizen, a prominent figure in the
kanō school of painting, lived from 1570 to 1616. as a member of this esteemed family of painters, he was known for his captivating works, particularly his byōbu screen paintings of nanban (southern barbarians, i.e., europeans).
early life and training
born in 1570,
kanō naizen was the middle son of
kanō eitoku, the head of the school. he was younger brother to
kanō mitsunobu, the heir to the kano school, and older brother to
kanō takanobu. naizen also had an adopted brother, the renowned
kanō sanraku. naizen's training took place within the head
kanō workshop in kyoto, where he worked alongside his family members to restore numerous imperial buildings, buddhist temples, and shinto shrines that were destroyed during the kamakura period and the genpei wars.
notable works and style
in 1610-15, naizen moved to edo (modern-day tokyo), the new administration capital, at the behest of the tokugawa shogunate. his style, while often overshadowed by his father and brothers, is particularly notable for its byōbu screen paintings of nanban. one of his more famous works,
"festivals of toyokuni", was produced in 1605 for the seventh anniversary of the death of kampaku
toyotomi hideyoshi, whose posthumous name was
toyokuni daimyōjin. this piece is a prime example of his skill in capturing the essence of nanban.
legacy
naizen's personal name was shigesato, which he acquired upon officially entering the
kanō school. his legacy, though sometimes overshadowed by his family members, remains significant in the realm of japanese painting, particularly in the context of byōbu screen paintings.
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