Katsukawa Shuntei

Key facts

Lived

1770–1824, Tokugawa shogunate

• What should I know about Katsukawa Shuntei's prints?+

  Katsukawa Shuntei (1770-1824) was a student of Katsukawa Shun'ei. Shuntei, whose family name was Yamaguchi, lived in Kanda Izumichō. Although some sources claim he died in 1820, the publication of his illustrations in 1821 and 1822 suggests 1824 is more accurate. His earliest known works are actor prints from 1797-98; however, he became known for other subjects. Shuntei designed prints of beauties, sumo wrestlers, and warriors. He pioneered a new style of warrior print: illustrating entire battle scenes across an ōban-size triptych. This approach influenced later artists such as Kuniyoshi. In 1804, Shuntei was briefly manacled for illustrating events and identifiable figures from the Ehon Taikōki (Illustrated Chronicles of the Regent). During the mid-1800s, he experimented with Western-style views. Besides prints, Shuntei illustrated books, produced paintings, and designed surimono. Examples of his work include the ōban triptych "Battle at the Nyoirin Hall in Washū" (1810s) and the diptych "The warrior Chinzei Hachirō Tametomo fights after the Battle of Ishiyama" (c.1813).
• What style or movement did Katsukawa Shuntei belong to?+

  Katsukawa Shuntei (1770-1824) belonged to the Katsukawa school of ukiyo-e printmaking. He was a student of Katsukawa Shun'ei. Shuntei worked in various genres, including images of beauties (bijin-e), actors (yakusha-e), warriors (musha-e), and landscapes. He also produced book illustrations and some paintings. His earliest known works are actor prints from 1797-98, but he became known for warrior prints. Shuntei created a new style of warrior print, depicting entire battle scenes across three sheets of an ōban-size triptych. This approach influenced later artists such as Kuniyoshi. Shuntei also experimented with Western-style perspectives in his depictions of places like Fukagawa and Shinagawa, and the Eight Views of Lake Biwa. In 1804, he was briefly manacled for illustrating events from the Ehon Taikōki (Illustrated Chronicles of the Regent).
• What techniques or materials did Katsukawa Shuntei use?+

  Katsukawa Shuntei (1770-1843) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist, belonging to the Katsukawa school. As a printmaker, he would have been closely involved with woodblock carving and printing, although he would usually have designed the image and relied on specialist craftsmen to produce the block and pull the prints. Ukiyo-e prints like Shuntei's were typically produced using a multi-block process, with a separate block for each colour. The keyblock, containing the outlines of the design, was carved first, and then used to create colour blocks. Water-based inks were applied to the blocks, and the print was made by hand-rubbing the paper onto the inked blocks. While the Getty passages provided relate to the materials and techniques of Tibetan Thangkas and other paintings, they do not offer specific information about Shuntei's practices.
• What was Katsukawa Shuntei known for?+

  Katsukawa Shuntei (1770-1824) was a student of Katsukawa Shun’ei, and like his teacher, he produced prints in several genres. Although his earliest known works are actor prints from around 1797-98, they were not his speciality. He is better known for his images of beautiful women, sumo wrestlers, and warriors. Shuntei innovated the warrior print by illustrating entire battle scenes across the three sheets of an ōban-size triptych. This approach influenced later artists, such as Kuniyoshi. In 1804, Shuntei, along with other artists, was briefly imprisoned for depicting events and figures from the *Ehon Taikōki* (Illustrated Chronicles of the Regent). He also experimented with Western-style perspective in his depictions of the Fukagawa and Shinagawa districts of Edo, and in his series *Eight Views at Lake Biwa*. Shuntei designed *surimono* (privately commissioned prints) and illustrated numerous books. Some sources claim he died in 1820, but books with his illustrations were published in 1821 and 1822.
• When did Katsukawa Shuntei live and work?+

  Katsukawa Shuntei was born in 1770 and probably died in 1824; some sources claim he died in 1820, but prints with his illustrations appeared as late as 1822. His family name was Yamaguchi, and his given name was Chōjūrō. He is also known by the art names Gibokuan, Shōkōsai, Shōkyūko, and Suihō Itsujin. He lived in Kanda Izumichō. A student of Katsukawa Shun'ei, Shuntei worked in several genres, including depictions of beauties (bijin-e), actors (yakusha-e), warriors (musha-e), and even some Western-style landscapes. The earliest of his surviving actor prints date to 1797 or 1798. He is known for triptychs of battle scenes, which influenced later artists such as Kuniyoshi. Shuntei also produced book illustrations, paintings, and surimono. In 1804, Shuntei, along with other artists including his teacher Shun'ei, was briefly imprisoned for illustrating identifiable figures from the Ehon Taikōki (Illustrated Chronicles of the Regent).
• Where was Katsukawa Shuntei from?+

  Katsukawa Shuntei, born Yamaguchi Chōjūrō in 1770, was a student of Katsukawa Shun’ei. Shuntei lived in Kanda Izumichō. While some sources claim he died in 1820, the existence of illustrated books from 1821 and 1822 suggests 1824 is a more likely death date. Although his earliest known works are actor prints from 1797 and 1798, this genre did not become his specialty. Shuntei created prints of beauties, sumo wrestlers, and, in particular, warriors. He pioneered a new style of warrior print: illustrating entire battle scenes across all three sheets of an ōban-size triptych. This approach influenced later artists such as Kuniyoshi. In 1804, Shuntei was briefly imprisoned for illustrating events and figures from the Ehon Taikōki (Illustrated Chronicles of the Regent). During the mid-1800s, he experimented with Western-style perspectives in his art. Besides single-sheet prints, Shuntei illustrated numerous books and produced some paintings and surimono. He designed pictures of Fukagawa and Shinagawa, districts in Edo.
• Who did Katsukawa Shuntei influence?+

  Katsukawa Shuntei (1770-1824) was a student of Katsukawa Shun'ei. He worked in various genres, including pictures of beauties (bijin-e), actor prints (yakusha-e), warrior prints (musha-e), and pictures of famous places. He also produced book illustrations and surimono (privately commissioned prints). Shuntei is considered a forerunner of a new style of warrior print. He created entire battle scenes across three sheets of an ōban-size triptych. This approach influenced later artists such as Kuniyoshi. Shuntei's liberal training under Shun'ei allowed him stylistic freedom compared to other artists of the period. He also experimented with Western-style perspective in his pictures of famous places. Other artists active during Shuntei's career include Kunisada, Eisen, and Kuniyasu.
• Who influenced Katsukawa Shuntei?+

  Katsukawa Shuntei (1770-1824) was a student of Katsukawa Shun'ei (1762-1819). Shun'ei, in turn, had been a student of Katsukawa Shunshō, inheriting leadership of the Katsukawa school around 1800. Shuntei's training under Shun'ei gave him a less constrained style than other painters of the time. Shuntei's earliest known works are actor prints from 1797-98, but he also designed beauties, sumo wrestlers, and warrior prints. He created a new style of warrior print: illustrating entire battle scenes across all three sheets of an ōban-size triptych. This influenced later artists like Kuniyoshi. Shuntei also experimented with Western-style perspectives in his pictures of Fukagawa and Shinagawa, districts of Edo, and in his Eight Landscapes at Lake Biwa. He illustrated books and designed surimono. Shun'ei specialised in actor prints, following his teacher Shunshō. Shun'ei's individual actor prints from the 1790s may have influenced Sharaku and Toyokuni.
• Who was Katsukawa Shuntei?+

  Katsukawa Shuntei (1770-1824) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist of the Katsukawa school. His family name was Yamaguchi, and his given name Chōjūrō. He was a student of Katsukawa Shun’ei, who led the Katsukawa school from around 1800. Shuntei was active in various genres, including images of beauties (bijin-e), actors (yakusha-e), warriors (musha-e), and sumo wrestlers. His earliest known works are actor prints from around 1797-98. Although not his primary focus, he became known as a forerunner in warrior prints, particularly for illustrating entire battle scenes across ōban-size triptychs. This approach influenced later artists such as Kuniyoshi. In 1804, Shuntei, along with his teacher Shun’ei, was briefly imprisoned for illustrating events and figures from the Ehon Taikōki (Illustrated Chronicles of the Regent). He also experimented with Western-style perspective in his pictures of Fukagawa and Shinagawa. Shuntei illustrated numerous books and produced some paintings, as well as designing surimono (privately commissioned prints). Some believe he gave up painting due to illness.
• Why are Katsukawa Shuntei's works important today?+

  Katsukawa Shuntei (1770-1824) was a student of Katsukawa Shun'ei, and his work is important for several reasons. Although he worked in various genres, including images of beautiful women, actors, and sumo wrestlers, he is especially noted for warrior prints. Shuntei innovated the warrior print by illustrating entire battle scenes across three sheets of ōban-size paper; this triptych format influenced later artists such as Kuniyoshi. Examples include his "Battle at the Nyoirin Hall in Washū" (1810s). Shuntei's career was not without incident. In 1804, he, along with his teacher Shun'ei, was briefly imprisoned for depicting events and identifiable people from the "Ehon Taikōki" (Illustrated Chronicles of the Regent) in his prints. He also experimented with Western-style perspective in his images of Edo districts and the Eight Views of Lake Biwa. Shuntei's artistic output included book illustrations and surimono (privately commissioned prints).