Views Inside and Outside the Capital, Kyoto (Left half) 1561

Kanō Eitoku created this painting on paper with color, gold, and ink, depicting Kyoto, sometime in the late 16th century. As a member of the Kanō school of painting, which was favored by the ruling elite, Eitoku served powerful figures like Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Kyoto, as the capital, was the center of political and cultural life. With its elevated perspective, this screen painting provided a bird’s-eye view of the city, an effect achieved through both artistic skill and also the patron's high social position. Notice how the golden clouds are used to create an image of opulence. This artwork gives us insight into the social and institutional context of art production at the time. It prompts us to consider questions about patronage, power, and the role of art in representing and reinforcing social hierarchies. To fully understand this, it’s important to research the social and political landscape of 16th-century Japan.