Moements with Imao, Keinen (1845-1924)
Japanese painter, calligrapher, printmaker and textile designer.

Imao Keinen was born in 1845 in Kyoto. He began his classical art education at age 11, studying painting in the Ukiyo-e style, a genre of Japanese art which flourished in the 17th to 19th centuries. Ukriyo-e artists produced woodblock prints and paintings.

He became a highly respected artist, printmaker, teacher, and calligrapher and his work can be found in many museums around the world.

His best known work Keinen Kachō Gafu (Flower and Bird Albums) was created in 1891, a collection of 4 albums of woodblock prints, one for each of the four seasons. "Kacho ga" is a term used for bird and flower prints. This form of art reached its peak in the late 19th century.

In 1919 he became a member of the Imperial Art Academy. In this period of his life he was probably the most famous painter of his time.