Okumura Masanobu

or Genpachi

(born 1686, Edo, Japan—died 1764/68, Edo) Japanese painter and publisher of illustrated books. His style is noted for its vividness and graceful, restrained lines. He was one of the first Japanese artists to adopt Western perspective, to which he was introduced by Chinese prints. He produced large-scale prints depicting scenes such as the insides of theatres and stores. Such prints were called uki-e (“looming picture”) for their foreshortened perspective. He is also said to have founded the format of habahiro hashira-e, or wide, vertical prints.

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