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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 - (MeisterDrucke-146602).jpg "Japanese Women Reading and Writing by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Actor as Evil Imperial Messenger by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Scene at the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine, from Act One of Chushingura, from the series \"Chushingura Juichimai-Tsuzuki\" 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 Nakamura Nakazo I as an Evil Courtier, Probably Prince Takahito, Illegitimate Son of Emperor Takakura, Disguised as Aso no Matsuwaka, in Part One of the Play Iro Moyo Aoyagi Soga, Performed at the by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Courtesans of the Yamashiroya, from the book")
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.jpg "Two Courtesans on a Moonlit Balcony at a House of Pleasure in Shinagawa, from the series \"Nan")
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.jpg "Courtesans of the Kagemanjiya (from the book \"Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters,\" vol. 1) by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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_in_the_Play_-_(MeisterDrucke-1300026).jpg "The Actor Nakamura Noshio I in a \"Shak-kyo Odori\" (Stone Bridge Dance), 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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.jpg "The Actor Otani Tomoemon I as Kasahari Hokkyo in the Play Kazoe Uta Ta Ue Soga, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the First 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 Iwai Hanshiro IV as Kojoro-gitsune of Hakata in the Play Hikitsurete Yagoe Taiheiki, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1776 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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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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.jpg "The Actors Ichimura Uzaemon IX as a Male Fox Disguised as the Sake Seller Iseya and Nakamura Tomijuro I as a Female Fox Disguised as the Beancake Peddler Hyugaya, in the Dance Sequence")
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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 "The Actor Matsumoto Koshiro II, from \"A Picture Book of Stage Fans\" 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 Ichikawa Monnosuke II as the Ghost of the Renegade Monk Seigen in the Play Edo no Hana Mimasu Soga, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Second Month, 1783 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Courtesans of the Takeya, from the book")
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.jpg "The Actor Otani Hiroji III in an Unidentified Role by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Onoe Matsusuke I as Prince Takanori in the play")
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.jpg "The Actors Nakamura Denkuro II as Seno-o Taro, Ichikawa Komazo II as Yorimasa, Nakamura Nakazo I as Taira no Kiyomori, and Ichikawa Danjuro V as Kiou Takiguchi (right to left), in the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo no Mato, Performed at the Nakamura Theater by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1291190).jpg "The Announcement, page from \"A Picture Book of Stage Fans (Ehon butai ogi)\" by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1298668).jpg "The Actor Onoe Kikugoro I, from")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1298668).jpg)
_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")
_Matsumoto_Koshiro_II_as_G_-_(MeisterDrucke-1298972).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1282143).jpg "The Actor Sawamura Tanosuke I, from \"A Picture Book of Stage Fans\" by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actors Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Karigane Bunshichi, Bando Mitsugoro I as An no Heibei, Ichikawa Danjuro V as Gokuin Sen")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Sukegoro II as the Sumo Wrestler Matano no Goro 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 "Nakajima Kanzaemon as a Lord Disguised as a Hunter with a Rifle by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakajima Kanzaemon III as Yaguchi no Karasu-baba in the Play Hono Nitta Daimyojin, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Seventh Month, 1777 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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_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 Nakamura Nakazo I as Nagasaki Kageyuzaemon Disguised as Gorohachi the Sake Seller, in the Play Hikitsurete Yagoe Taiheiki, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1776 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Courtesans of the Yoshiwara Pleasure Quarter, from the Series Seiro Kokon Hokku Awase by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as Prince Koreakira, Younger Brother of Emperor Go-Toba, in the Play Gohiiki Kanjincho, Performed at the Nakamura Theater from the First Day of the Eleventh Month, 1773 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV as Tsukisayo in the Play Gohiiki Nenne Soga, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the First Month, 1779 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 "The Actor Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Shira-giku, a Temple Page, in the Play Haru wa Soga Akebono-zoshi, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the First Month, 1772 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Actor Iwai Hanshirō IV Performs the Triple Umbrella Dance in")
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_Edo_period_mid_1770s_(colo_-_(MeisterDrucke-1404461).jpg "Kabuki Actor Ichikawa Danjuro IV as a Footman (Yakko), Edo Period, Mid 1770s 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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.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 Ichikawa Danjuro V as Kakogawa Honzo, from the play")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Shimokobe Shoji Yukihira, in the Play Gohiiki Kanjincho, Performed at the Nakamura Theater from the First Day of the Eleventh Month, 1773 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as Kakogawa Honzo, from the play")
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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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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1272570).jpg "The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV, from")
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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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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1278845).jpg "An Actor as Senzai, from")
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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 "The Actor Ichikawa Raizo I as Hanakawado no Sukeroku in the Scene")
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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 Iwai Hanshiro IV as Osuwa in the Play Koi no Yosuga Kanagaki Soga, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Fourth Month, 1789 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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_and_Ichikawa_Junzo_I_(left)_in_the_-_(MeisterDrucke-1294053).jpg "The Actors Nakamura Shichisaburo III and Ichikawa Junzo I in the Play Nue no Mori Ichiyo no Mato, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1770 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
_and_Ichikawa_Junzo_I_(left)_in_the_-_(MeisterDrucke-1294053).jpg)
_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 "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 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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.jpg "Courtesans of the Kadotamaya, from the book")
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.jpg "Courtesans of the Kadokaneya, 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 Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as Kudo Kanaishi 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 "The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as the Renegade Monk Dainichibo Soliciting Alms, in the Play Edo Meisho Midori Soga, Performed at the Morita Theater from the Fifteenth Day of the First Month, 1779 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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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 "The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as a Monk, Raigo Ajari, in the Play")
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_and_Three_Unident_-_(MeisterDrucke-1288166).jpg "The Actors Nakamura Kashiwagi as a Wakashu (second from right), and Three Unidentified Actors as Yakko by Katsukawa Shunsho")
_and_Three_Unident_-_(MeisterDrucke-1288166).jpg)
_()_in_the_Pla_-_(MeisterDrucke-1288269).jpg "The Actor Segawa Kikunojo III as the Courtesan Kisewata in the Play Hana-zumo Genji Hiiki, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1775 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
_()_in_the_Pla_-_(MeisterDrucke-1288269).jpg)
.jpg "The Actors Nakamura Nakazo I and Ichikawa Komazo I in the dance scene")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V in Formal Attire by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "Narihira Presents a Chancellor with a Model of a Pheasant, from the series Tales of Ise in Fashionable Brocade Pictures by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro V as the Renegade Buddhist Monk Wantetsu from Okamidani, in the Fifth Scene of the Play Date Nishiki Tsui no Yumitori, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1778 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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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 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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.jpg "The Actor Nakayama Kojuro VI as Ko no Moronao in the Play Kanadehon Chushingura, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Fifth Month, 1786 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Play Fuki Kaete Tsuki mo Yoshiwara (Rethatched Roof: The Moon also Shines Over the Yoshiwara Pleasure District), Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eleventh Month by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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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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.jpg "Actors Ichikawa Danjūrō V as Gokuin Sen’emon, Bandō Mitsugorō I as An no Heibei, and Nakamura Sukegorō II as Kaminari Shōkurō in “A Soga Drama on the First Festival Day in the Pleasure District” by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as Soga no Goro Tokimune in the Play Kazoe Uta Ta Ue Soga, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the First Month, 1776 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as Onmaya Kisanda Disguised as the Lion Dancer Kakubei in the Play Chigo Torii Tobiiri Kitsune, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1777 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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.jpg "Four Courtesans of Various Houses, from the book")
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.jpg "The Actor Bando Mitsugoro I as Taira no Tadamori Disguised as a Potted-Plant Seller in the Play Sakuya Kono Hana no Kaomise, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1776 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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_Segawa_Kikunojo_II_(center)_and_Bando_Sampa_-_(MeisterDrucke-1286069).jpg "The Actors Ichikawa Somegoro, Segawa Kikunojo II, and Bando Sampachi in Unidentified Roles 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 "The Actor Sawamura Sojuro III as Sonobe Zaemon in the Play")
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.jpg "Actor Nakamura Nakazo I Lifting a Pillar by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Onoe Matsusuke I as Baramon no Kichi in the Play Hatsumombi Kuruwa Soga by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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_Segawa_Kikunoj_I_-_(MeisterDrucke-1618766).jpg "Actors Ichimura Uzaemon IX as Kajiwara Genta no Kagetoki (Left), Segawa Kikunojô II as Yuki Onna (Center), and Arashi Sangorô II as Minamoto no Yoritomo (Right) in “Cotton Wadding of Izu Protecting the Matrimonial Chrysanthemums” by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1276142).jpg "An Actor as Okina, from \"A Picture Book of Stage Fans\" 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 Noshio I as the Goddess Benzaiten of Enoshima in the Play")
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_Disgui_-_(MeisterDrucke-1293840).jpg "The Actors Segawa Kikunojo III as the Spirit of Joro-gumo (Harlot Spider) Disguised as the Maiko Tsumagiku (right), and Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Urabe no Suetake (left), in the Play Shitenno Tonoi no Kisewata, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleve by Katsukawa Shunsho")
_Disgui_-_(MeisterDrucke-1293840).jpg)
_in_the_Play_Gohiiki_Kanj_-_(MeisterDrucke-1293339).jpg "The Actor Nakamura Riko I as the Courtesan Wakamatsu in the Play Gohiiki Kanjincho, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1773 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Otani Hiroji III, Possibly as Akaneya Hanshichi in the Play")
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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 "Sumida River, Musashi and Shimosa Provinces, from the series")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Sukegoro II as Kaminari Shokuro in the Joruri")
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.jpg "Nakajima Kanzaemon as a Lord Disguised as a Hunter with a Rifle, c. early 1780s by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as Takechi Jubei Mitsuhide in the Play Shusse Taiheiki, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Eighth Month, 1775 by Katsukawa Shunsho")
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.jpg "The Actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX as the Yakko Matahei in the Play Mukashi Otoko Yuki no Hinagata, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1781 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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