Sōami (Muromachi period artist)

Sōami was a prominent Japanese painter during the Muromachi period (14th to 16th centuries), known for his innovative landscape paintings and ink brush techniques. He was a key figure in the development of the "suibokuga" style, which emphasizes the expressive use of ink and subtle shading in art. Sōami was also influential in integrating traditional Chinese aesthetics with Japanese themes, notably in his work for the Ashikaga shogunate. His contributions helped shape the visual arts of the time and laid the groundwork for later Japanese painting traditions.