Kōto Kudo (1915–2011) was a Japanese-style painter born in Aomori Prefecture. He studied at the Kawabata School of Painting and developed his artistic practice through his interactions with artists such as Toyoshiro Fukuda. Whilst taking the forms of nature—such as trees, butterflies, birds and animals—as his subjects, he did not simply depict real landscapes as they were, but rather constructed a unique world in which memories, dreams and prayers seemed to be layered upon one another. He also took an interest in Western Surrealism, and a key feature of his work lies in his use of traditional Japanese painting materials to express fantastical mental landscapes. He later played a part in the formation of the Sōgakai art group and, as a professor at the Tokyo University of the Arts, was involved in nurturing the next generation of artists.

When viewing Kōto Kudo’s works, one senses that an invisible presence of life lurks deep within quiet forests and grassy glades. Whilst the meticulously rendered plants and tiny creatures are realistic, the entire composition exudes a mysterious atmosphere, as if one were walking through a dream. It seems as though, whilst depicting nature, he sought simultaneously to reflect the depths of human memory and the innermost recesses of the human psyche. The great appeal of Kōto Kudo’s work lies in the mystery found within its delicacy, and in the way his works stimulate the imagination the more one looks at them.