Watanabe Shiko

Shiko was born in Kyoto to a family of aristocratic origin that served the Konoe family, the head of which was an hereditary official in the court. Shiko himself entered the service of Lord Konoe Iehiro (1667-1736) by 1708. Originally a Kano school painter, Shiko produced more paintings in Rimpa style. He is conjectured to have been deeply influenced during his formative years as a painter by the works of Koetsu and Sotatsu as well as those of Korin which were abundant in Kyoto. Shiko was never a professional painter, painting only for the Kanoes and his friends; therefore his works are rare.