Tawaraya Sōtatsu (俵屋宗達)

Tawaraya Sōtatsu (俵屋宗達) was a Japanese artist whose active career spanned the early 17th century, roughly operating between 1600 and 1640. His legacy is established through his mastery of painting, with 14 documented works represented in major international museum collections.

The surviving output demonstrates the artist’s versatility across narrative, figure, and genre painting. Notable Tawaraya Sōtatsu (俵屋宗達) paintings include the literary subject Crossing at Sano and the historical scene Royal Visit to Ōhara, from The Tale of the Heike. His figure studies are represented by works such as Kenshu, Monk with Shrimp, while his compositions featuring animals include the paired pieces Puppy and Puppy with Dandelions.

The institutional credibility of the artist is cemented by the presence of his work in prestigious American collections, notably the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Cleveland Museum of Art. As works of this period transition into the public domain, Tawaraya Sōtatsu (俵屋宗達) prints are frequently available, allowing researchers and collectors access to high-quality prints and downloadable artwork derived from these museum-held originals.