A World of Edo Art
Little is known about Tawaraya Sōtatsu, but he and his studio (early 17th century) signed their works with a red, circular "I-nen" seal and specialized in folding screens of flowers and grasses and fan paintings. The I-nen seal was placed on several studio works during Sōtatsu's lifetime, an indication that they were produced either by his own hand or by his studio. The seal was used with greater frequency by the studio's artists after Sōtatsu's death circa 1640.
Many I-nen seal works depict flowers and plants, reflecting a marked increase of interest in botany, scientific examination, and categorization of plant types. People often gave seedlings, plants, and cut flowers as gifts. The Sōtatsu studio and the artists who used the I-nen seal gained commissions that reflected this fascination with horticulture.
