Katsukawa Shuncho

KATSAKAWA SHUNSHO (Japan, ca. 1750-1821).
"Woman arranging her hair".
Ink and colors on paper.
Signed.
Measurements: 30 x 40 cm (painting); 112 x 57 cm (base); 126 x 63 cm (frame).

The versatility and skill with the drawing of Katsukawa Shuncho is evident in this pictorial composition in which an elegant lady dressed in a kimono preens her black hair in front of a mirror. The mirror rests on a stand that takes the form of a tree trunk with a zigzagging growth. It is an intimate and delicate image, characteristic of the work of this important Japanese artist.

Katsukawa Shuncho was a Japanese artist of ukiyo-e, a genre of woodblock prints. His legacy encompasses various forms of artistic expression, standing out as an engraver, painter and illustrator. His work, developed during the Edo period, is distinguished by his technical mastery and his contribution to the depiction of actors, beautiful women and other traditional subjects. Katsukawa began his career as a disciple of Katsukawa Shunsh? but his style evolved under the influence of prominent artists of the time, including Torii Kiyonaga, Kubo Shunman and Kitagawa Utamaro. Katsukawa's reputation is highlighted in the Katsukawa school, where the rarity of his depictions of actors is appreciated, as well as his ability to create outstanding works in genres such as hashira-e, sanmai-tsuzuki and paintings of women. Katsukawa's artistic legacy is manifested in a series of remarkable works in which his skill in genres such as actor portraiture, consecutive images and depictions of nude women are evident, leaving a lasting impact on the history of ukiyo-e.