The important Japanese woodblock printmaker Katsukawa Shunsho is a well-known representative of the ukiyo-e art style, whose subject is the flowing, transient world. He lived from about 1726 to 1793 in Edo, today's Tokyo. To this day his unique works, which show mainly Kabuki actors and sumo wrestlers, fascinate. The special thing about these illustrations is the way the characters of Katsukawa Shunsho are portrayed. His portraits appear extremely realistic and lively.
In 1764 Katsukawa Shunsho began to paint actors and scenes from the Kabuki theatre. At that time the Kabuki Theater was the theater of the bourgeoisie, which was characterized by striking costumes as well as music and dance. Highlights of the theater were the characteristic poses of the Kabuki actors. Especially these poses were captured by Shunsho in ukiyo-e wood color prints. This is how Shunsho's works of art such as "Nakamura Sukegoro II as Samurai" or "Onoe Matsusuke in a female role" were created. With his unique drawing style, Katsukawa Shunsho founded his Katsukawa school, which produced several famous Japanese artists of the ukiyo-e style.
In addition to the depictions of Kabuki actors, Shunsho's works also include numerous portraits of sumo players and images of ladies in fine kimonos. His works radiate a unique atmosphere and captivate with their fine lines. All his pictures express the character of the portrayed person in a special way, which helped Katsukawa Shunsho to become very popular.
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.jpg "The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III in Private Life, Standing in a Snow-Covered Garden by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Actor as Evil Imperial Messenger by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-146602).jpg "Japanese Women Reading and Writing by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Noshio I as the Spirit of the Courtesan Takao, in the Shosagoto Dance Sequence \"Sono Utsushi-e Matsu ni Kaede\" (A Shadow-Picture of Pine and Maple), the Last Scene of Part Two of the Play Keisei Momiji no Uchikake (Courtesan in an by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as the Spirit of Monk Seigen in the Shosagoto Dance Sequence \"Sono Utsushi-e Matsu ni Kaede\" (A Shadow-Picture of Pine and Maple), the Last Scene of Part Two of the Play Keisei Momiji no Uchikake (Courtesan in an Over-Kimono of by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as the Thunder God, an Incarnation of Kan Shojo, in the Play Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Third Month, 1780 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as the thunder god, an incarnation of Kan Shojo, in the play \"Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami,\" performed at the Morita Theater in the third month, 1780 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX as an Incarnation of the Dragon King in the Play Saki Masuya Ume on Kachidoki, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1778 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX as Otomo no Kuronushi in the Play Sugata no Hana Yuki no Kuronushi, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1776 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Summer Flowers: Irises and Water Plantains, from the book")
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.jpg "Courtesans of the Chojiya, from the book \"A Comparison of Beauties of the Green Houses: A Mirror of Their Forms,\" vol. 1 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III as Naniwazu in the Play Sugata no Hana Yuki no Kuronushi, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1776 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Onagawa Kisaburo and Tanikaze Kajinosuke Performing the Shiriki in the Dohyo, Refereed by Kimura Shonosuke by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I as the Female Fox from Mt. Ubagadake in the Play")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro IV possibly as Tenjiku Tokubei in the play")
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.jpg "The Actors Arashi Sangoro II as Tadanobu and Segawa Kikunojo III as Shizuka Gozen in the Play Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees, Edo period by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro IV possibly as Tenjiku Tokubei in the play \"Tenjiku Tokubei Turns the Helm toward Home,\" performed at the Nakamura theater in the eighth month, 1768 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1283188).jpg "Weaving Silk, plate 11 from the series \"Silkworm Cultivation\" by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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_Matsumoto_Koshiro_II_as_G_-_(MeisterDrucke-1298972).jpg "The Actors Yamashita Yaozo I as Ono no Komachi, Matsumoto Koshiro II as Godai Saburo, and Ichikawa Danzo III as Otomo no Kuronushi, in the play \"Kuni no Hana Ono no Itsumoji,\" performed at the Nakamura Theater by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichikawa Ebizo III as the Thunder God, an Incarnation of Sugawara Michizane, in the Play Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eighth Month, 1776 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actors Ichikawa Danzo IV as Arakawa Taro Takesada Disguised as the Palanquin Bearer Tarobei, and Ichikawa Danjuro V as Abe no Sadato Disguised as the Pilgrim Kuriyagawa Jirodayu, in the Play Godai Genji Mitsugi no Furisode by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V in a")
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.jpg "Four Courtesans of Various Houses, from the book")
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.jpg "The Actor Onoe Matsusuke I as Prince Takanori in the play")
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.jpg "The Actor Otani Hiroemon III as Hige no Ikyu in the scene “Sukeroku” in the play \"Hitokidori Harutsuge Soga\" (\"The Soga Play: Announcement of the Spring Season by the Bush Warbler\") by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1281040).jpg "The Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Danjûrô II (1689-1758) by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Anegawa Shinshiro II, from \"A Picture Book of Stage Fans\" by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Funya no Yasuhide, Two Women in a Gusty Autumn Landscape, from the series")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1278845).jpg "An Actor as Senzai, from")
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.jpg "The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Moshio in the Play Izu-goyomi Shibai no Ganjitsu, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1772 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Courtesans of the Matsubaya, from the Book")
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.jpg "Courtesans of the Matsuneya, from the Book")
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.jpg "Winter Flowers: Chrysanthemums, from the book \"Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters,\" vol. 1 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1416028).jpg "Act Six: Yoichibei")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX as Fuwa Banzaemon in the Play Keisei Nagoya Obi, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eighth Month, 1771 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Courtesans of the Matsubaya, from the book")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichikawa Raizo II as Murakami Hikoshiro Yoshiteru in the Play Oyoroi Ebido Shinozuka, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1772 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Four Courtesans of Various Houses, from the Book")
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_a_-_(MeisterDrucke-1281806).jpg "The Actors Sawamura Sojuro II as the Chinese Sage Huangshi Gong (on horseback), and Ichikawa Danzo III as the Chinese Warrior Zhang Liang (mounted on a dragon), in the Finale of the Play Otokoyama Yunzei Kurabe (At Mt. Otoko, a Trial of Strength in Drawing by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as Prince Koretaka Disguised as the Courier Izutsu Chuji, in the Play")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Juzo II as Akita Jonosuke in the Play Onna Aruji Hatsuyuki no Sekai, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1773 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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_Kashiwado_Kandayu_from_Edo_(left)_an_-_(MeisterDrucke-1291602).jpg "Sumo Wrestlers of the Western Group: Kashiwado Kandayu from Edo and Inagawa Masaemon from Osaka by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as Soga no Goro Disguised as a Komuso in the Play Sakai-cho Soga Nendaiki, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the First Month, 1771 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Utaemon I as Monk Seigen of Kiyomizu Temple in the Play Soga Moyo Aigo no Wakamatsu, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Third Month, 1769 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Treasury of Loyal Retainers, Act 4 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as the Courtesan Kisegawa in a")
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.jpg "Three Beauties Chatting by a Veranda by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Courtesans of the Yadaya, from the book \"Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters,\" vol. 1 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V, Edo period by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Courtesans of the Okaneya, from the book")
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.jpg "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 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Kabuki Actor Nakajima Mihoemon as Fujiwara Shihei in the play,")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as Tezuka no Taro Mitsumori Disguised as the Monkey Trainer Tonkichi Tochibei, in the Play Soga Moyo Aigo no Wakamatsu, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the First Month, 1769 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actors Matsumoto Koshiro II as Osada no Taro Kagemune Disguised as the Woodcutter Gankutsu no Gorozo (right), and Ichikawa Danzo III as I no Hayata Tadazumi (left), in the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo no Mato, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleven by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as Ono Sadakuro in the Play Kanadehon Chushingura, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Fifth Month, 1776 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Arashi Sangoro II as Minamoto no Yoritomo in a dance interlude in scene two of the Joruri \"Courtesan")
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.jpg "The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as Aigo no Waka in the Play Chigo Sakura Jusan Kane, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1774 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Courtesans of the Maruya, from the book \"Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters,\" vol. 2 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as the Renegade Monk Dainichibo in the Play Edo Meisho Midori Soga, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Second Month, 1779 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I as the Courtesan Toyama of Tsuruga in the Play Keisei Tsuki no Miyako, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eighth Month, 1775 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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_Courtesan_and_Her_Attendant_-_(MeisterDrucke-1297205).jpg "Evening Bell at Yagurashita, Courtesan and Her Attendant at the Yagurashita Unlicensed Pleasure District in Fukagawa, from the series")
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.jpg "The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as a Thunder Goddess in the Play Onna Narukami by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Ichikawa Danjuro V from the Play")
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.jpg "The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV as the Courtesan Agemaki in the Play \"Sukeroku Yukari no Hatsu-zakura,\" Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Third Month, 1776 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Arashi Sangoro II as Sakura-maru in the Play Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the First Month, 1772 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Courtesans of the Kiribishiya, from the book \"Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami),\" vol. 2 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Warrior Watanabe no Tsuna Fighting the Demon at Rashomon by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actors Nakamura Nakazo I as Onmaya Kisanda Dressed as Kakubei the Lion Dancer and Segawa Kikunojo III as Shizuka Gozen, in the Dance Sequence")
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.jpg "Courtesans of the Ogiya, from the book \"Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters,\" vol. 1 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Courtesans of the Chojiya, from the Book")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as Ono Sadakuro in the Play Kanadehon Chushingura, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Sixth Month, 1783 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Minamoto no Yorinobu in the Play Kikujido Shuen no Iwaya, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1775 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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_and_Matsumoto_Kosh_-_(MeisterDrucke-1280675).jpg "The Actors Ichikawa Danzo III as I no Hayata Tadazumi and Matsumoto Koshiro II as Osada no Taro Kagemune Disguised as Yatsurugi Zaemon, in the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo no Mato, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1770 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V in an Unidentified Role by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Osagawa Tsuneyo II as Onoe no Mae in the Play Date Nishiki Tsui no Yumitori, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1778 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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_Ichikawa_Danjuro_V_as_the_-_(MeisterDrucke-1294608).jpg "The Actors Nakamura Noshio I as Nyosan no Miya, Ichikawa Danjuro V as the Renegade Monk Yochin, and Yamashita Kinsaku II as the Maid Mutsuhana, in the Play Fuki Kaete Tsuki mo Yoshiwara, Performed at the Morita Theater by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as Hige no Ikyu in the Play Nanakusa Yosooi Soga, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Fifth Month, 1782 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichikawa Danzo III as the Holy Hermit Narukami in the play")
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.jpg "Act VII: The Ichiriki Teahouse in the play Chushingura Juichidan Tsuzuki by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichikawa Danzo III as Shoki the Demon-Queller in the Play")
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.jpg "The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as a Shirabyoshi Dancer in Musume Dojo-ji in the Play Edo no Hana Mimasu Soga, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Fourth Month, 1783 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Ikushima Daikichi III as the Courtesan Naniwazu in the Play Saki Masuya Ume no Kachidoki, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1777 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as Chinzei Hachiro Tametomo Disguised as a Pilgrim, Edo period by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as an Itinerant Monk in the Play Hikitsurete Yagoe Taiheiki, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1776 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Black Horse Tethered under a Blossoming Cherry Tree by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as the Renegade Monk Dainichibo in the Play Edo Meisho Midori Soga, Performed at the Morita Theater in the First Month, 1779 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Courtesans of the Ogiya, from the book \"Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters,\" vol. 1 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro IV as Taira no Tomomori disguised as Tokaiya Gimpei in the scene")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1283526).jpg "Act Eight: Bridal Journey, from the play")
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.jpg "The Actor Otani Hiroji III, Probably as Ukishima Daihachi in the Play")
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.jpg "Courtesans of the Takeya, from the book")
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.jpg "The Actor Otani Hiroji III, Possibly as Akaneya Hanshichi in the Play")
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.jpg "The Play Kuni no Hana Ono no Itsumoji, Performed at the Nakamura Theater by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakajima Kanzaemon III, from \"A Picture Book of Stage Fans\" by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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_and_Otani_Hiroji_III_as_Ba_-_(MeisterDrucke-1298220).jpg "The Actors Nakamura Nakazo I as Omi no Kotoda, and Otani Hiroji III as Bamba no Chuda, in the Joruri \"Sono Chidori Yowa no Kamisuki\" (The Plovers: Combing Hair at Midnight), from Part Two of the Play O-atsurae-zome Soga no Hinagata by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actors Nakamura Nakazo I as Hata Rokurozaemon Disguised as the Samurai")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Riko I as Hanako, the Daughter of Koshiba Kamon, Disguised as a Yotaka (Low-class Prostitute), in the Play Kotobuki Banzei Soga, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Fifth Month, 1783 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Courtesans of the Gakuiseya, from the book")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I as a Female Fox from Mt. Ubagadake in the Play Chigo Torii Tobiiri Kitsune, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1777 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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