mitsuda-e; litharge painting
A historical Japanese painting technique using litharge (lead monoxide) as a drying agent in oil-based pigments. The term is primarily encountered in art history contexts.
Mitsuda-e is said to be a technique introduced from China during the Nara period.
glue-and-pigment painting with litharge oil coating
A variant technique where a glue-based pigment layer is coated with litharge oil to add luster. This sense is less common and may overlap with the first in general usage.
This mitsuda-e uses a glue-based pigment layer coated with litharge oil to produce luster.
Formed from 密陀, a shortened form of 密陀僧 “litharge,” and 絵 “painting.” 密陀僧 is an old Chinese transcription of a word transmitted from western Asia for litharge.