Taikō Josetsu: The Father of Japanese Ink Painting Josetsu (如拙; *fl.* 1405–1496) stands as a monumental figure in the history of Japanese art, recognized universally as the progenitor of *suiboku* style – monochromatic ink wash painting – and arguably the first practitioner of this influential technique. Despite the paucity of biographical details surrounding his life, Josetsu’s artistic legacy endures through his groundbreaking work, particularly “Catching a Catfish with a Gourd,” which cemented his place as one of the most revered artists of the Muromachi period (15th century). ### Early…