Katsushika Ōi 1800 – 1866

Biography

Katsushika Ōi was born on January 1, 1800, in Edo, Japan, during a period of remarkable artistic flourishing. She came of age in a city teeming with creative energy and cultural tradition, where the visual arts held a central place in daily life. Her life spanned sixty-six years, a full measure that allowed her to develop deep expertise and leave a meaningful mark on her field.

As an artist working in nineteenth-century Japan, Ōi contributed to the rich tradition of Japanese visual arts during an era of significant cultural transition. Her career unfolded against the backdrop of Edo’s vibrant artistic community, where she engaged with the techniques, themes, and innovations that defined her time.

Ōi passed away on January 1, 1866, marking the end of a life that began and concluded on the same date of the calendar. Though specific details of her later years and final resting place remain unknown to history, her existence and her dedication to artistic practice represent an important thread in the broader tapestry of Japanese cultural heritage. She is remembered as a figure of the nineteenth-century art world whose work reflected the spirit of her era.