Tawaraya Sōtatsu
The Genesis of a Visual Revolution In the transformative era of the early Edo period, as Japan emerged from the shadows of civil war into a time of unprecedented cultural flourishing, the artistic landscape was forever altered by the hand of Tawaraya Sōtatsu. Though the precise details of his early life remain shrouded in the mists of history, scholars trace his origins to around 1570 in Nantou, Japan. Born into a family of skilled cra…
The Lifeline
Scroll through Tawaraya Sōtatsu's working life — artwork by artwork, chapter by chapter — from the earliest dated work to the last. Each thumbnail is pinned at its exact year on the gold axis.
Chapters — Career Periods
The ribbon is divided into shaded bands, one per career chapter. Each chapter groups Tawaraya Sōtatsu's works by their historical period — early training, mature practice, final years.
Thumbnails — Dated Works
Every thumbnail is pinned at its precise creation year. A thin gold thread drops from the image to its exact point on the axis. Larger frames mark the artist's masterpieces by rank.
Colour Band — Movement Drift
The gradient bar beneath the axis shifts colour as the dominant art movement changes over time — from the warm golds of the early period through the deeper tones of maturity. It fills progressively as you scroll.
