Changes

*''Died: [[1818]]/10/21''

*''Died: [[1818]]/10/21''

*''Other Names: Suzuki Harushige, Andô Kiichirô, Tôgen''

*''Other Names: Suzuki Harushige, Andô Kiichirô, Tôgen''

*''Japanese'': 司馬江漢 ''(Shiba Koukan)''

*''Japanese'': [[司馬]]江漢 ''(Shiba Koukan)''

Shiba Kôkan was one of the foremost artists in the tradition of ''[[ranga]]'' (Western-style paintings), and was extremely innovative in developing new ways to imitate European oil paints and other media, and in adapting European painting techniques and styles. He was also a student of ''[[ukiyo-e]]'' artist [[Suzuki Harunobu]], and produced forgeries of Harunobu's work as well as prints in the style of Harunobu, under his own art-name of Suzuki Harushige.

Shiba Kôkan was one of the foremost artists in the tradition of ''[[ranga]]'' (Western-style paintings), and was extremely innovative in developing new ways to imitate European oil paints and other media, and in adapting European painting techniques and styles. He was also a student of ''[[ukiyo-e]]'' artist [[Suzuki Harunobu]], and produced forgeries of Harunobu's work as well as prints in the style of Harunobu, under his own art-name of Suzuki Harushige.

A member of the ''[[chonin|chônin]]'' (townsman/commoner) class, and known as Andô Kiichirô in his childhood, he was born and raised in [[Edo]]. His father was an artisan, possibly a swordsmith; he had an uncle who was an amateur painter. He is said to have enjoyed drawing from a very early age.

A member of the ''[[chonin|chônin]]'' (townsman/commoner) class, and known as Andô Kiichirô in his childhood, he was born and raised in [[Edo]]. His father was an artisan, possibly a swordsmith; he had an uncle who was an amateur painter. He is said to have enjoyed drawing from a very early age.

As a young man, he was apprenticed to a [[Kano school|Kanô school]] painter or studio, but quickly tired of the school's style and conservative adherence to tradition at the expense of creativity. In 1762, the year after his father's death, Kôkan began studying painting, as well as Chinese classics and poetry, under [[So Shiseki|Sô Shiseki]], a painter of the [[Nagasaki school|Nagasaki]] and [[Nanpin school]]s who specialized in [[bird-and-flower painting]]. It was at this time that he took the name Shiba Kôkan, derived from the Chinese name Ssu-ma and [[kanji]] representing both Edo and China's Han dynasty.

As a young man, he was apprenticed to a [[Kano school|Kanô school]] painter or studio, but quickly tired of the school's style and conservative adherence to tradition at the expense of creativity. In 1762, the year after his father's death, Kôkan began studying painting, as well as Chinese classics and poetry, under [[So Shiseki|Sô Shiseki]], a painter of the [[Nagasaki school|Nagasaki]] and [[Nanpin school]]s who specialized in [[bird-and-flower painting]]. It was at this time that he took the name Shiba Kôkan, derived from the Chinese name Sīmǎ and [[kanji]] representing both Edo and China's Han dynasty.

Kôkan studied for a brief time under Suzuki Harunobu, today regarded as one of the top masters of ''ukiyo-e''. After Harunobu's death in 1770, Kôkan, under the name Suzuki Harushige, continued for several years producing ''ukiyo-e'' works, some bearing Harunobu's signature, and passed off as the master's work, and others claimed as his own.

Kôkan studied for a brief time under Suzuki Harunobu, today regarded as one of the top masters of ''ukiyo-e''. After Harunobu's death in 1770, Kôkan, under the name Suzuki Harushige, continued for several years producing ''ukiyo-e'' works, some bearing Harunobu's signature, and passed off as the master's work, and others claimed as his own.