Japanese Ukiyo-e Appreciation Series II: Performing Artists Paintings (3)

Author: Wu Guiyu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-10-01
Features: Actor Prints – Woodblock prints depicting Kabuki actors. Tōzu Zōryaku – A master of "actor prints," whose life remains a mystery to this day. Believed to have originated from the theater world, Tōzu Zōryaku excelled at using exaggerated techniques and simplified brushwork to vividly capture the facial features of famous performers, earning admiration from many Kabuki enthusiasts. In just ten months from 1794 to 1795, Tōzu Zōryaku created nearly one hundred and fifty works. However, at the height of his fame, this brilliant artist quietly and mysteriously retired. Due to the rarity of his works and their high artistic value, his prints have risen to the top in international ukiyo-e auctions.