Kitao Shigemasa

Kitao Shigemasa was considered one of the greatest "ukiyo-e" print artists of his day. He was born in 1739 as the eldest son of the Edo book publisher, Suharaya Saburöbei, and may have worked for a while as an apprentice at the shop of his grandfather, the publisher Suharaya Mohei.* He illustrated many books between 1760 and 1805. Although his career for the most part falls outside the "Primitive" period, he produced some fine prints in the "benizuri-e" tradition. His output was small but distinguished, and his work is greatly sought after today. More often than not, his single-sheet prints are unsigned. He was one of the great teachers of his age and probably taught Utamaro and Hokusai unofficially. Shigemasa is represented in this database by five "benizuri-e" (three-color prints) and nine prints in the full-color medium (the "nishiki-e" are presented later in the context of the early full-color prints in the 1770s).

* Different info from catalog card: "As a young man he was employed by the publisher, Suwari-ya, and was probably adopted by the publisher's family."

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Shigemasa was the son of an Edo publisher, and was really one of the most popular "ukiyo-e" artists of his day. He was able to appeal to the taste of the time, although if we were to judge his work today, we would be forced to admit that it is not very original. His signed prints are relatively rare. At his best, he exhibits an excellent draftsmanship, particularly in his rare, unsigned geisha series. His figures reveal a canon halfway between Harunobu and the tall statuesque figures of Kiyonaga.

Research by: Howard A. Link.