Kano Eitoku
Kano Eitoku, born in 1543, was the grandson of Kano Masanobu. During the Momoyama Period (1573-1615), Eitoku introduced a new strength and spirit that appeared in his large artworks, which pleased the daimyo during his period. These huge paintings were fit for the interior of the daimyo’s huge castles. Kano Eitoku also laid the foundations for the use of art as an addition to rulership by creating a collection of themes and styles with symbolic suggestions for both Nobunaga’s and Hideyoshi’s castles. Adding onto that, he painted a series of fusuma (sliding doors) and byobu (folding screens). When painting these, Eitoku painted large animals, figures, and nature scenes onto gold metallic foil, which depicted what the daimyo wanted to show. With these artworks, he created a legacy that would live on for generations. His adopted son, Kano Sanraku, added elegance and “decorativeness” onto Eitoku’s style, while his other descendants’ works decorated the main hall of the Ninomaru Palace.