絵師・画師|えしeshi[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounpainter; artist
2. nounillustrator

• Synonym画家がかNeutralThe most common modern term for a painter. 「絵師」 leans toward painters of the old court or ukiyo-e artists, while 「画家」 is neutral and general.
• Synonym画伯がはくFormalFormal: an honorific for a painter, as in 「〇〇画伯」; also used jokingly of someone who paints strangely.
• Synonym画匠がしょうWrittenWritten/formal prose for a painter, with an artisan nuance; rarely used.
• Synonym画人がじんWrittenWritten/formal prose for a painter, with a refined, literary flavor; rarely used.
• Synonym画工がこうWrittenWritten/formal prose for someone whose trade is producing drawings or diagrams, with a craftsman nuance; can also mean a painter. Rarely used.
• RelatedイラストレーターNeutralA loanword for an illustrator; in modern internet usage such people are also called 「絵師」.
• Related絵かきえかきCasualColloquial for someone who paints for a living; plain and friendly, without the old-fashioned air of 「絵師」.
• Related墨客ぼっかくWrittenWritten/formal prose for a literatus skilled in calligraphy and painting; often seen in the phrase 「文人墨客」.
• Related美術家びじゅつかNeutralCovers fine artists generally — painters, sculptors and the like — a broader range than 「絵師」.

For a painter in general, say 「画家」. Use 「絵師」 for painters of the old court or ukiyo-e artists, and — online today — for illustrators, for whom 「イラストレーター」 is the standard word. Honor a painter with 「画伯」. 「絵かき」 is colloquial; 「画匠」「画人」「画工」 are rare written words; 「墨客」 is a literatus; 「美術家」 covers fine artists broadly.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 絵えを描えがくことを業ぎょうとする人ひと。
2. 推古すいこ朝ちょうに置おかれた、朝廷ちょうてい直属ちょくぞくの絵画かいが職人しょくにん。
3. 律令制りつりょうせいにおいて、中務なかつかさ省しょうの画工がこう司しに属ぞくする四よん人にんの専門せんもん画家がか。
4. 江戸えど幕府ばくふの絵所えどころに属ぞくする専門せんもん画家がかの職名しょくめい。
5. 漫画まんがやアニメ風ふうの絵えを描えがくイラストレーター。