Sesshu Toyo
1420-1506 · Japanese (Bitchu Province) · Muromachi Period
Known for: Greatest master of Japanese ink wash painting whose landscapes are national treasures
Sesshu was a Zen Buddhist monk who studied painting in Ming China and developed a bold, personal style that surpassed his Chinese contemporaries. According to legend, as a boy he drew a mouse so realistic with his tears and toes that monks untied him from punishment.
His works are designated national treasures of Japan. He elevated Japanese ink painting to independence from Chinese models.
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