SESSHU

born 1420, Akahama, Bitchu province, Japan died Aug. 26, 1506, near Masuda, Iwami province Landscape of the Four Seasons (also called the Longer Landscape original surname Oda, also called Toyo, Unkoku, or Bikeisai artist of the Muromachi period, one of the greatest masters of the Japanese art of sumi-e, or monochrome ink painting. Sesshu adapted Chinese models to Japanese artistic ideals and aesthetic sensibilities. He painted landscapes, Zen Buddhist pictures, and screens decorated with birds, flowers, and animals. His style is distinguished for its force and vehemence of brush stroke as well as by its intensity of conception. Additional reading J.C. Covell, Under the Seal of Sesshu (1941), the only detailed and scholarly study of Sesshu in English; E. Grilli, Sesshu (1957), a brief English survey of the life and art of Sesshu that is well illustrated. Major Works: There are only a few authenticated works by Sesshu, the most important of which are: Four Seasons Landscape, four landscape scrolls (c. 147090; Tokyo National Museum); Autumn Landscape, hanging scroll (c. 147090; Tokyo National Museum); Winter Landscape, hanging scroll (c. 147090; Tokyo National Museum); Short Scroll Landscape (c. 147490; Asano Collection, Odawara, Japan); Portrait of Masuda Kanetaka (1479; Masuda Collection, Tokyo); Long Scroll Landscape, or Sansui Chokan (c. 1486; Mori Collection, Yamaguchi, Japan); Haboku-Sansui, scroll (1495; Tokyo National Museum); Daruma and Hui K'o, scroll (1496; Sainen-ji, Aichi, Japan); Ama-no-Hashidate, scroll (c. 150205; Kyoto National Museum); Flowers and Birds, pair of six-fold screens (undated; Kosaka Collection, Tokyo).