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Taiga
Ike-no

Japan • 1723−1776

Biography and information

To this day it retains a small number of sources regarding the details of his biography. The epithet "genius" follows him from the age of six. Ikeno, Taiga was comprehensively educated: in addition to painting and calligraphy, was fond of Chinese dance and music, cut out the print, picking herbs and collecting stones. It is also known that he was a member of the society of haiku, wrote Chinese poems and ballads, he studied the versification of a poet, Reza Tamamura (1712 - 1774).

Taiga lived modestly and despite the fame and lucrative orders led almost an ascetic life. The money was distributed to the poor or donated to monasteries, leaving only for food. He cared for his sick mother sometimes made trips to the mountains.

IKE Taiga, but he lived in the Edo period. Together with the poet and painter buson Esau a developed and perfected the genre Nang (bundzinga). Most of his works indicate the influence of classical Chinese culture and the revolutionary introduction of new technology in traditional Japanese painting. As bunjin (man of letters), the IR rotates in the highest aristocratic and cultural circles in Kyoto and other Japanese cities.

The future artist was born in a poor peasant family. After the birth of IKE and his father got a job in a silver mine, but when the boy was 3 years, died. The mother was able to give his son a classical Japanese and Chinese education. At the age of 6 years, the boy began to study calligraphy and religious studies at the Buddhist temple Manpuku-JI temple in Kyoto. At age 14 he became a professional artist and calligrapher, however, continues to improve his skills. In 1738, IKE enters the student to Yanagisawa Keanu, known at the time of the master. In 1743 the artist takes the name of IKE, reducing his name, Ikeno (jap. 池野?) as a role model to the Chinese, whose names often consisted of a single character. In early 1740-ies IKE becomes an art shop in Kyoto, around which are grouped his adherents. At the same time, he met the poet and artist Esau by Buson, who became a friend of IKE. In 1746, IKE marries the owner of a tea house, and 2 years later makes a series of journeys around Japan. Having been in Kanazawa, Nikko and mount Fuji, the artist settles in Edo. Here, he created many paintings and calligraphic masterpieces, and learns the Dutch style of painting (rangaku).

Many of the works of IKE Taiga but are among the National treasures of Japan.