Tani Buncho

Tani Buncho was born in 1763 in Shitaya Negishi, Edo, and died in 1841. A Nanga (literati) painter, he used the name Buncho as both his given and courtesy name. He first studied under Kato Bunrei and later under Watanabe Gentai. Guided by the ideal of "studying all eight schools," he learned widely, from Chinese painting and Western-style painting to the Tosa school, Rinpa, and the Maruyama-Shijo school.

In 1788 he entered service and later became an attendant to the senior councilor Matsudaira Sadanobu, taking part in the "Public Leisure Scenic Tour" handscroll and the compilation of Shuko Jushu. He also associated with many literati, including Kimura Kenkado.

He showed a varied style that blended the characteristics of different schools, and he produced many pupils, including Watanabe Kazan, creating a new Nanga school in the Kanto region. He is also famous for the many forgeries of his work; it was said that 99 out of 100 were fake. His works include "Moonlit Night on the Sumida River" and "Visiting a Friend in the Mountain Valley."