Tosa Mitsushige Paintings

Tosa Mitsushige was a Japanese painter who lived during the Muromachi period in the 16th century. He was a member of the Tosa school, which was founded by Tosa Yukihiro and specialized in the yamato-e painting style, a purely Japanese style that focused on Japanese themes, particularly narratives of a historical or literary nature. The Tosa school served the imperial court, and its members were often granted the title 'Edokoro Azukari' (Keeper of the Bureau of Painting), making them the official painters of the court.

Mitsushige is particularly known for his involvement in the creation of illustrated handscrolls, such as 'The Tale of Genji' and 'The Tales of Ise.' His works are characterized by their delicate lines, refined color palettes, and detailed depiction of courtly life, attire, and architecture. They often also display a keen sense of narrative and are imbued with a lyrical atmosphere.

Unfortunately, very few works that can be securely attributed to Tosa Mitsushige have survived to the present day. This scarcity makes it difficult to fully assess his personal style and contributions to the development of the Tosa school. Despite this, the Tosa school itself remained influential in Japanese painting for many centuries, and Mitsushige's role in it, during the Muromachi period, is considered to be significant.

Tosa Mitsushige passed away in 1569. The legacy of his artistic contributions continued through the Tosa school, which remained active and influential through the Edo period, particularly in the genre of classical Japanese narrative painting.