Sesshu Toyo
Japanese master of ink and wash painting
Years: 1420 - 1506
Sesshu Toyo (Oda Toyo since 1431, also known as Tōyō, Unkoku, or Bikeisai; 1420 – August 26, 1506) is the most prominent Japanese master of ink and wash painting from the middle Muromachi period.
He was born into the samurai Oda family, then brought up and educated to become a Rinzai Zen Buddhist priest.
However, early in life he displays a talent for visual arts, and eventually becomes one of the greatest Japanese artists of his time, widely revered throughout Japan and China.
Sesshu studies under Tensho Shubun and is influenced by Chinese Song Dynasty landscape painting.
In 1468–9, he undertakes a voyage to Ming China, where too he is quickly recognized as an outstanding painter.
Upon returning to Japan, Sesshu builds himself a studio and establishes a large following, painters that are now referred to as the Unkoku-rin school—or "School of Sesshu".
Although many paintings survive that bear Sesshu's signature or seal, only a few can be securely attributed to him.
His most well-known work is the so-called "Long Landscape Scroll" (Sansui chokan).
