Iwasa Matabei - 岩佐 又兵衛

Iwasa Matabei (岩佐 又兵衛, 1578-1650) was a Japanese painter from Edo (now Tokyo)and he was specialized in illustrations of classical Japanese and Chinese literature, in portraits and also in the genre of historical event scenes. Upon the defeat and suicide of his father, a soldier and feudal lord of the Sengoku period, he took refuge in the Hongan Temple in Kyōto. Matabei’s work was noted for its striking figures, with large heads and delicately drawn details. It became the major influence on the ukiyo-e (color-print) school of painting, of which he was a major founder.