The early Edo period painter, Tosa Mitsuoki, was known as a leading figure in the revival of Tosa school painting, which had long receded from the center of the art world since the end of the Muromachi period. By incorporating elements from Kano school and Song-Yuan dynasty painting (Sō-Gen ga) into the Tosa school aesthetic, he maintained the tradition of Yamato painting and built a new Tosa aesthetic in the Edo period.

On the whole, Mitsuoki’s quails were his most skilled depictions. The delicate and precise depiction of feathers in this work functions as an effective reflection of Mitsuoki’s elegant technique, which is further heightened by its sophisticated composition and elegant color expression.

Noting the inscription, “土佐左近将監光起筆”, it can be deduced that this is a work after 1654 when Mitsuoki was appointed Lieutenant of the Left Division of Inner Palace Guards.

Learn more about Tosa Mitsuoki, here