Bunchō

Ippitsusai Bunchō (一筆斎文調, fl. 1755–1791) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist,^[1] best known for his yakusha-e actor prints in narrow hosoban dimensions.^[2] Bunchō and Katsukawa Shunshō are credited with having developed kabuki actor portraiture focuses on producing likenesses of the subjects, rather than stereotyped faces.^[3]

Little is known about Bunchō's life. His birth surname was Mori, and he is believed to have studied painting under Ishikawa Yukimoto of the Kanō school.^[2][1]

The earliest known works attributed to Bunchō are the illustrations to Hachimonji Jishō II's Eiga asobi nidai otoko (1755). Between 1766 and 1774 he made a large number of actor prints in the narrow vertical hosoban dimensions. In 1770 he produced the three-volume Ehon butai ōgi (絵本舞台扇, "Picture-book of Stage Fans") with Katsukawa Shunshō, which depicts the leading kabuki actors of the day on ōgi hand fans; Bunchō handled the onnagata—male actors who portray female characters.^[2] It was popular and went through multiple printings.^[4]

From 1769 he also made bijin-ga prints of female beauties that show the influence of Suzuki Harunobu.^[2] These became his major subject, and in the An'ei era (1772–81) no actor prints of his are known.^[4]

Bunchō's last known work was an e-goyomi picture calendar from 1790. He had few students, one of whom was Kishi Bunshō (1754–96).^[2]

• Works by Ippitsusai Bunchō
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  Matsumoto Koshiro III as Soga no Goro
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  Matsumoto Koshiro as Asagao
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  Actor and Courtesan Parodying the Armor-Pulling Scene from the Story of the Soga Brothers
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  An Actor of the Ichikawa School about to Draw His Sword
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  The Toothbrush Shop Yanagi-ya
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  Ichimura Uzaemon IX and Otani Hiroji III
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  Ichimura Uzaemon X
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  Courtesan with a Dog
•