noun
literati painting; Southern School painting
Refers to a style of Chinese-influenced ink painting associated with scholar-amateurs, emphasizing personal expression over realistic depiction. In Japanese art history, it is often contrasted with professional painting styles.
彼は文人画の技法を学ぶために中国へ渡った。
He went to China to study the techniques of literati painting.
この掛け軸は江戸時代の文人画の名作
This hanging scroll is a masterpiece of Edo-period literati painting.
From Chinese 文人畫 (wénrénhuà), literally 'literati painting'. The term entered Japanese through art historical discourse.