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context: painting > prints > artists
Katsukawa Shunsho, 1726-92/3
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Otanji Hiroji III |
Hillier says his theatrical prints "are composed with a rare restraint of colour and design." I'll beg to differ on that, and if you look to his kabuki work here you can make your own judgement. I'll prefer Christine Guth's references to "bombast and exaggeration," personally. I'm not sure that any artist of rare restraint should be so focussed on kabuki prints really, as they are far more suited to bombastic exaggeration.
For me he's one of the most spectacularly exciting of all ukiyo-e artists, and my favourite kabuki artist. The print shown on this page highlights one reason for his fame: his works actually resembled the actors concerned, which was not the norm. He could capture a key moment with its poses, costume and props magnificently, with high drama and boldness, but he also showed you the person behind the role - here, rather literally so.
One final note: he was the master and teacher of the youthful Hokusai, as if Shunsho needed another claim to fame.