Kanō Eitoku

Lore & Background

Born in Kyoto, Eitoku was the grandson of Kanō Motonobu (1476–1559), an official painter for the Ashikaga shogunate. He showed his talent for painting at an early age, and at the age of 10 he had an audience with the shōgun Ashikaga Yoshiteru alongside Motonobu. While there are various theories regarding the exact years of creation, in his early twenties, he created two works that are now considered National Treasures: Rakuchū rakugai zu byōbu (Views in and around Kyoto) and the fusuma paintings entitled Kachō zu fusuma (Birds and flowers of the four seasons) at Jukō-in, a subtemple of the Daitoku-ji Temple. At a young age, he had acquired skills equivalent to those of Kano Motonobu. He painted the Rakuchū rakugai zu in 1565 at the request of Ashikaga Yoshiteru. Subsequently, Oda Nobunaga acquired the artwork to demonstrate his control over Kyoto and the shogunate, and presented it to Uesugi Kenshin. The Rakuchū rakugai zu is a byōbu depicting the scenery and customs of Kyoto, and among the designated National Treasures, there are only two: the version known as the Uesugi edition by Kano Eitoku and the Funaki edition by Iwasa Matabei. Eitoku's patrons included Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He was hired by Nobunaga at the age of 34. His standing screen, sliding door, wall, and ceiling paintings decorated Nobunaga's Azuchi castle and Hideyoshi's residence in Kyoto and Osaka Castle. Contemporary accounts indicate that Eitoku was one of the most highly sought-after artists of his time, and received many wealthy and powerful patrons. Maintaining the preeminence of the Kanō School was not merely an artistic feat, but an organizational and political one also. Eitoku was able to secure a steady stream of commissions and an efficient workshop of students and assistants, and at one point successfully intercepted a warlord's commission of the rival Hasegawa Tōhaku studio. His signal contribution to the Kanō repertoire was the so-called 'monumental style' (taiga), characterized by bold, rapid brushwork, an emphasis on foreground, and motifs that are large relative to the pictorial space. The traditional account for this style, codified by Eitoku's great-grandson Einō (1631–97) in his History of Japanese Painting (Honcho gashi), is that it resulted partly from the exigencies of Eitoku's busy schedule, and that it embodied the martial and political bravura of the warlords, Nobunaga and Hideyoshi. Most of his works were destroyed in the turmoil of the Sengoku period. Symbolic representations, like pheasants, phoenixes and trees are often depicted in the works. The pheasant, for example is the national symbol of Japan, are mythological messengers of the sun goddess Amaterasu.

Reader's Guide

Kanō Eitoku's significance lies in his role as a patriarch of the Kanō school during the Azuchi–Momoyama period. He developed the 'monumental style' (taiga), which became a hallmark of the era, using bold, rapid brushwork, an emphasis on foreground, and large motifs relative to the pictorial space. The traditional account, codified by his great-grandson Einō in the History of Japanese Painting, holds that this style resulted partly from the exigencies of Eitoku's busy schedule and embodied the martial and political bravura of the warlords Nobunaga and Hideyoshi. His ability to secure commissions from the most powerful figures of the day—including Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi—and to outmaneuver rival studios such as that of Hasegawa Tōhaku, demonstrates his organizational and political acumen. Although most of his works were destroyed in the turmoil of the Sengoku period, two National Treasures survive: the Rakuchū rakugai zu byōbu (Uesugi edition) and the Kachō zu fusuma at Jukō-in. These works, along with contemporary accounts, attest to his mastery and influence. Eitoku's style and career exemplify the integration of art, politics, and patronage in early modern Japan.

Did You Know?

• Kanō Eitoku was born on February 16, 1543 and died on October 12, 1590.
• At age 10, he had an audience with shōgun Ashikaga Yoshiteru alongside his grandfather Kanō Motonobu.
• He painted the Rakuchū rakugai zu in 1565 at the request of Ashikaga Yoshiteru; Oda Nobunaga later acquired it and presented it to Uesugi Kenshin.
• He was hired by Oda Nobunaga at the age of 34.
• At one point, he successfully intercepted a warlord's commission from the rival Hasegawa Tōhaku studio.