Tawaraya Sōtatsu (1570 – 1643)
Nationality | Japanese |
Where Artist Lived | Kyoto, Japan |
Associated Movements | Rinpa school |
Famous Artworks | § Waterfowl in the lotus pond (c. 1630) § Wind God and Thunder God (c. 1630) § Sekiya and Miotsukushi (1631) |
Although the exact date of Tawaraya Sōtatsu’s date of birth remains unknown, it was estimated to be around 1570. Tawaraya Sōtatsu was most famous for his collaborations with Hon’ami Kōetsu, whom he created many decorative and calligraphic works with, including amazing folding screens, many of which have become national treasures of Japan. Iconic examples of these screens include Wind God and Thunder God (c. 1630) and Sekiya and Miotsukushi (1631).
- Wind God Fujin (right) and Thunder God Raijin (left) by Tawaraya Sōtatsu, 17th century; 俵屋宗達 (Tawaraya Sotatsu) (1570-1643), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sōtatsu was also a Japanese furniture designer and artist of the Rinpa school, which was not a school in traditional terms, but rather a collective of artists creating Japanese drawings and other artworks influenced by Kōetsu and Sōtatsu. He was also known for pioneering Tarashikomi, a technique in which one adds drop after drop of color while the previous layer is still wet.
- Sekiya and Miotsukushi (1631)
Date | 1631 |
Medium | Ink, color, and gold on paper |
Dimensions (cm) | 152.6 x 355.6 |
Where It Is Housed | Seikadō Bunko Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan |
This beautiful work by Sōtatsu is considered a masterpiece by Japanese art historians. Depicting the artist’s personal interpretation of the traditional Genji painting style, Sōtatsu adapts the Genji style of miniature Japanese drawing to a larger scale format, while helping to transform the visual storytelling element of Genji illustration through the use of simplified and clean geometry.
- TOP: Chapter I of the Tale of Genji, Sekiya, and Miotsukushi (17th century) by Tawaraya Sōtatsu; Tawaraya Sōtatsu, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- BOTTOM: Chapter II of the Tale of Genji, Sekiya, and Miotsukushi (17th century) by Tawaraya Sōtatsu; Tawaraya Sōtatsu, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
This piece consists of two screens, each one representing a random meeting between the character Genji and his former lover. Each screen portrays gates, which represent travel and was likely the main reason that they were paired together. This painting was one of two works by Sōtatsu that have been dated with accuracy and is thus considered vital in understanding the artist’s history, of which not much is known.
