The Pilgrim - Shun'ei Katsukawa

Ichikawa Danjuro by night, in the role of rokuju-rokubu, or pilgrim to the sixty six  Buddhist Shrines in as many provinces. He wears a portable shrine on his back and holds a shakujo staff in his hands with a mokugyo attached to his waistband. A fine and famous design. cir 1780

 Ukiyo-e painter, print maker (1762 - 1819). A man of diverse interests: musician, a devotee of the theatre, a painter of witty sketches and caricatures. Lived in Edo. Brilliant pupil of Katsukawa Shunsho, whose surname he adopted. Specialized in actor prints and scenes from plays, giving an individual and at times biting characterization to his portraits. May have started the fashion for okudi-e of actors, though many critics credit Shunko with this innovation.At his best from 1791 to 1795, influencing both Sharaku and Toyokuni. Also illustrated books, including the seven volumes of Shibai Kimmo Zui (An Encyclopedia of the Theatre). By 1800 one of most prominent ukiyo-e figures and leader of the Katsukawa school.

Sawamura Sojuro III - Katsukawa Shun'ei

A monumental and extremely rare yellow-ground aiban showing the actor Sawamura Sojuro III in the role of Nagoya Sanza in the play Keisei sanbon karakasa performed at the Miyako-za, 7/1794. Shun’ei designed another print of the same actor and role, see the Walter Amstutz collection, Sothebys, 1991, lot 98. Shun’ei – the originator of the ‘Big Head’ – was something of an eccentric and a great lover of the theatre and sumo. Shuntei Katsukawa was a pupil of Katsukawa Shunei. His print works covered a wide spectrum of typical Ukiyo-e subjects: actors, beautiful women, warriors, battle scenes, landscapes. His landscape prints are highly influenced by western painting - using perspective.