Title : The Actor Nakamura Sukegorö II and the Onnagata Actor Segawa Kikunojö II

Artist : Katsukawa Shunsho

Date : c. 1769

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Source : Honolulu Museum of Art
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Description : Katsukawa Shunshö was trained in the genre-painting schools of Miyagawa Chöshun (1682-1752) and Hanabusa Itchö (1652-1724). Starting in the late 1750s, he began to develop a more realistic style of his own. He learned much from the color harmonies of Suzuki Harunobu (1725-1770). His specialization, the actor print, soon overshadowed the dominant Torii School works. Michener thought that Shunshö ranked up with Kiyonobu and Sharaku in his influence upon Kabuki prints. He is known to have had numerous pupils. The most rebellious of them was Hokusai, who left Shunshö's studio after a quarrel with him. A confrontation between two actors in a snowy setting; this probably reflects a suggested snowfall onstage. The actor Nakamura Sekugoro II appears in the bold makeup of an heroic male role. The play may be “Soga Moyö Aigö no Wakamatsu.” (from “Capturing Actor’s Spirit / Shunsho” exihibition 1/15/2009-)

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