The mastery of Japanese art Tosa School was spitted into two main group and lasted from great 15th-century until the end of the Edo period (1603–1867).
The Tosa school devoted its talents to subjects and techniques traditional to the indigenous art of Japan and, in theory, provided the official painters attached to the court.
The illustration of Japanese literary classics, especially the Genji monogatari (“Tale of Genji”), were subjects especially favoured by Tosa artists. Delicate ink drawing combined with a decorative use of colour create a precious effect in the small-scale treatment of the Tosa style.