Katsukawa’s work is defined by its painter sensibility — an enduring influence on generations that followed. Most artists are dead; following is a declaration of love.

The Actor Yamashita Mangiku I as Lady Yuya (Yuya Gozen) (?) in the Play Heike Hyobanki (?), Performed at the Nakamura Theater (?) in the Seventh Month, 1789 (?)
Katsukawa Shunsen Japanese, active 1780s-early 1790s

The Actor Matsumoto Koshiro IV as the Plant Seller Awashima no Yonosuke in the Play Mukashi Otoko Yuki no Hinagata, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1781
Katsukawa Shunsen Japanese, active 1780s-early 1790s

The Actor Yamashita Mangiku I as Lady Yuya (Yuya Gozen) (?) in the Play Heike Hyobanki (?), Performed at the Nakamura Theater (?) in the Seventh Month, 1789 (?)
Katsukawa Shunsen Japanese, active 1780s-early 1790s

The Actor Onoe Matsusuke I as Ashikaga Takauji in the Play Kumoi no Hana Yoshino no Wakamusha, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1786
Katsukawa Shunsen Japanese, active 1780s-early 1790s

The Actor Asao Tamejuro I as Drunken Gotobei in the Play Yoshitsune Koshigoe Jo, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Ninth Month, 1790
Katsukawa Shunsen Japanese, active 1780s-early 1790s

The Actor Matsumoto Koshiro IV as Hatakeyama Shigetada in the Play Edo no Fuji Wakayagi Soga, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the First Month, 1789
Katsukawa Shunsen Japanese, active 1780s-early 1790s

The Actor Ichikawa Komazo III as Fuji Sakon (?) in the Play Egara Tenjin Risho Kagami (?), Performed at the Nakamura Theater (?) in the Third Month, 1789 (?)
Katsukawa Shunsen Japanese, active 1780s-early 1790s

Flower (Hana)
Katsukawa Shunsen (Shunko II) Japanese, 1762-c. 1830

The Actor Onoe Matsusuke
Katsukawa School Japanese, c. 18th century

Travelers in Snow
Katsukawa Shunsen (Shunko II) Japanese, 1762-c. 1830

The Actor Bando Shucho III as Shizuka Gozen, from the series “Collection of Portraits by Shunsen (Shunsen nigao shu)"
Natori Shunsen Japanese, 1886-1960

The Actor Otani Hiroji III as Kawazu no Saburo in the Play Myoto-giku Izu no Kisewata, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1770
Katsukawa Shunsho 勝川 春章 Japanese, 1726-1792

The Actor Nakamura Kichiemon I as Mitsuhide, from the series “Collection of Portraits by Shunsen (Shunsen nigao shu)"
Natori Shunsen Japanese, 1886-1960

The Actor Sawada Shojiro as the Swordsman Hayashi Buhei, from the series “Collection of Portraits by Shunsen (Shunsen nigao shu)"
Natori Shunsen Japanese, 1886-1960

The Actor Onoe Matsusuke IV as Nozarashi Kohei, from the series “Collection of Portraits by Shunsen (Shunsen nigao shu)"
Natori Shunsen Japanese, 1886-1960

Shoki the Demon Queller
Katsukawa Shun'ei Japanese, 1762-1819

The Actor Nakamura Noshio I in an Unidentified Role
Katsukawa Shunsho 勝川 春章 Japanese, 1726-1792

Actors Segawa Kikunojô II as Reizei, Ichikawa Komazô I as Suruga no Hachirô, and Ichikawa Yaozô II as Tada no Kurando in “The Genji Clan Now at Its Zenith” (“Ima o sakari suehiro Genji”)
Katsukawa Shunshô 勝川 春章 Japanese, 1726-1792

Weaving silk, plate 11 from the series "Silkworm Cultivation (Kaiko yashinai gusa)"
Katsukawa Shunsho 勝川 春章 Japanese, 1726-1792

Ichikawa Danjūrō V as a Skeleton, Spirit of the Renegade Monk Seigen, and Iwai Hanshirō IV as the Cherry Princess, in “Flower of Edo: An Ichikawa Saga” (Edo no Hana Mimasu Soga)
Katsukawa Shunsho 勝川 春章 (Japanese, 1726-1792)