Kobayashi Eitaku (小林永濯)

Kobayashi Eitaku (小林 永濯, 22 April 1843 – 27 May 1890) was a Japanese artist and illustrator specializing in ukiyo-e and nihonga.

About the age of twelve or thirteen became a pupil of Kano Eitoku Tatsunobu (1814-91) and a few years later was employed by Ii Naosuke, Lord of Hakone, as an official painter and given 'samurai' status. In 1860, when his lord was assassinated, Eitaku resigned his position and began travels throughout Japan, finally returning to settle in Nihonbashi. Influenced by various styles, including Ming and Western-style painting. Studied briefly with Yoshitoshi and did colour prints in Ukiyo-e style after c. 1870, colour-print illustrations for the 'Yokohama mainichi shimbun' newspaper and also picture-books such as 'Banbutsu hinagata gafu' and 'Sensai Eitaku gafu'. His paintings combine Kano, Ukiyo-e and Western-style elements.