Japan: 'Cypress Trees', eight panel screen, ink on paper overlayed with gold leaf, Tokyo National...

Kano Eitoku (February 16, 1543 - October 12, 1590) was a Japanese painter who lived during the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568-1600) and is considered one of the most prominent patriarchs of the Kano school of Japanese painting. The Kano school of painting was the dominant style of painting from the late 15th century until the Meiji period which began in 1868. The school began by reflecting a renewed influence from Chinese painting, but developed a brightly coloured and firmly outlined style for large panels decorating the castles of the nobility which reflected distinctively Japanese traditions, while continuing to produce monochrome brush paintings in Chinese styles.