Nagasawa Rosetsu

Nagasawa Rosetsu was born in 1754 in Sasayama, Tamba Province (present-day Tamba-Sasayama, Hyogo Prefecture), and died in 1799. His family name was Kataoka, and he was adopted into the Nagasawa family. His given name was Masakatsu, his courtesy name was Hyokei, and his common name was Kazue. Besides Rosetsu, he used other art names such as Hikigoshi and Ushu Gyosha.

He was a leading pupil of Maruyama Okyo, but he departed from Okyo's gentle style, developing an eccentric and witty manner with bold compositions and striking close-ups. He is said to have been free-spirited, and true to that nature he painted bright, lively pictures that strayed from his teacher's style.

Together with Soga Shohaku and Ito Jakuchu, he is called one of the "eccentric painters," known for a strongly individual style even among Edo-period paintings. His works include "Snow Rabbit under a Nandina" and "Flowers and Birds."