Tōshūsai Sharaku

Tōshūsai Sharaku (flourished 1794–95, Japan) was one of the most original Japanese artists of the Ukiyo-e movement (paintings and prints of the “floating world”). Tōshūsai is said to have been a nō actor in Awa province (now Tokushima prefecture). His extant works consist of fewer than 160 prints, chiefly of actors. These prints of actors, especially the okubi-e, or half-length portraits, are striking for their intensity and for an exaggeration verging on caricature. Unlike other...