High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Toba-e is a style of Japanese painting based on works from the 12th century that are attributed to Toba S j . These Toba-style images were caricatures sometimes involving animals performing human tasks. Toba-e style images gained popularity as a commercial medium in mid-eighteenth century Edo. Though their popularity did not stay strong, Toba-e images have left a lasting impact through today, particularly in manga.Toba-e style paintings, as were popular in the Edo period are marked by their comedy over just their visual content. The images should be cheerful and relaxed, but yet humorous. An sense of sarcasm is understood. Color is used light and conservatively. The focus of the image is on the simplicity and precision of the brushwork forming outlines. Strokes for the outlines and details are all applied with very crisp edges, but the shapes those outlines take are extremely playful and organic.