View source for So Shiseki

*''Born: [[1715]]''
*''Died: [[1786]]/3/11<ref name=kotobank>''Sō Shiseki to ha'' (宋紫石とは, "Sō Shishiki is..."). Kotobank.jp. Accessed 1 September 2009.</ref>''
*''Japanese'': [[宋]] 紫石 ''(Sou Shiseki)''

Sô Shiseki was a painter of the [[Nagasaki school|Nagasaki]] and [[Nanpin school]]s.

Originally from [[Edo]], he spent some time in [[Nagasaki]], where he studied under the Chinese painter [[Song Ziyan]], who was known as Sô Shigan in Japanese. The name Sô Shiseki is a [[art-name|pseudonym]], derived from an imitation of his master's name<ref name=mfa>Morse, Anne Nishimura et al. (eds.) ''MFA Highlights: Arts of Japan''. Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 2008. p201.</ref>.

Shiseki's [[Bird-and-flower painting|bird and flower painting]]s and other works display the use of a combination of broad calligraphic brushstrokes for branches, tree trunks and rocks, ink wash and color for flower petals and leaves, and much finer brushstrokes for the fine details of feathers and flowers to produce a very detailed and lifelike, realistic depiction.

Returning to Edo, Shiseki became a prominent representative and teacher of the Nagasaki school in that city, teaching [[Shiba Kokan|Shiba Kôkan]] among others<ref name=mfa/>. He was close with such ''[[rangaku]]'' scholars as [[Hiraga Gennai]] and [[Sugita Genpaku]], and expressed an interest in [[Ranga|Western painting]]<ref name=kotobank/>. He composed a number of books, and [[Woodblock printing|woodblock printed]] volumes of his artworks were produced as well<ref name=mfa/>.