Tosa school

Tosa school paintings are characterised by "areas of flat opaque colour enclosed by simple outlines, where drawing is precise and conventional", with many narrative subjects from Japanese literature and history.

first half 15th century),[3] who first used the professional name of Tosa, though unverified claims to earlier origins were made later by Mitsunobu (1434?–?1525) who formally founded the school.

The Tosa school under Mitsunobu retained the position of (edokoro azukari (絵所領, "head of the Imperial painting bureau")) for three generations, until 1569, and regained the post 1634 under Mitsunori (See #History below).

In general, the Tosa style is characterized by rather flat, decorative compositions, fine linework, great attention to detail, and brilliant color.

But Mitsunobu purports that the origins of the school can be traced back further to Fujiwara Tsunetaka (Yukimitsu) (藤原行光)[3] who held the post of edokoro azukari (絵所領) in 1355–1371.

Yukihiro's activity as a painter is known primarily from an inscription on illustrated handscrolls of the Stories of the Origin of Yūzū Nembutsu (融通念仏縁起); 1414, Seiryōji (清涼寺), Kyoto.