The Actor Matsumoto Koshiro in the Role of a Daimyo's Retainer
ca. 1780s
Katsukawa Shunsho was renowned for introducing individualized realism into actor prints. In fact, he was the first print artist to create recognizable portraits of contemporary actors. His images have a delicacy and sense of color not found in the actor prints of the Torii school, and the small, narrow format of many of his works lends a pleasing intimacy.
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Sheet size: 13 x 5 3/4 in. (33 x 14.6 cm)
Gift of Mary and Allan Kollar, in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Seattle Art Museum
2013.31.7
Provenance: [Thomas French Fine Art, Fairlawn, Ohio]; purchased from gallery by Allan Kollar, Seattle, Washington, 2005; to Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington, 2013
Photo: Colleen Kollar Zorn