Sanibel Art Gallery» Painting Artist

Introduction

Isoda Koryusai (c.1735-90) originally a samurai became, after the death of his master, the lord of Tsuchiya, a ronin named (lordless a cavalier) and a "floating man. Most of these "floating people" ended up in shallow water, but Koryusai chose to be a painter and designer of woodcuts. It was very likely a student Nishimura Shigenaga (1697-1756), but his friend and master of Ukiyo-e Harunobu (c.1725-1770) had the biggest influence on his work. It Harunobu that gave the go (pseudonym) Koryusai, Masakatsu is his real name, who had once used himself in the past. The respect and admiration for his teacher was so great Koryusai not developed his own style to Harunobu died. Exceeded in different print formats and genres of ukiyo-e especially in the print format column and the shunga (erotic) genre, which will be discussed in the following paragraphs.

Pilar Print

Koryusai remarkable results achieved in the long narrow format printing pillar (Hashira-e), using a unique style of rich color, rich and decorative and re-introduce the use of opaque orange (TAN) that had characterized the color hand impressions of the past. He also used the vertical size of this format to give the appearance of a hanging scroll (kakemono) acquisition a certain stratification. As in the conventional style of Japanese landscape painting of the viewer's eyes start at the bottom of the image of the eye leading to the middle and then to the top depiciting the background. In general Hashira-e are rare because at the time attached to wooden columns, as part of the interior Japan and therefore more susceptible to damage. But because of the considerable amount of impressions Koryusai pillar designed in this format of many of his designs have survived.

Erotic Labor

"In the color and line, in creating the overall atmosphere of physical love, the best color prints are unsurpassed erotic Koryusai in Japanese art, and this explains in particular the high esteem in which is celebrated among connoisseurs - for those few have pursued the cult of artistic eroticism as assiduously as the Japanese. " (Richard Lane)

During Harunobu and Koryusai's period of censorship activity government was rather weak given the opportunity to experiment within the genre of shunga. Sometimes even signed their designs often positioning within the framework of a sliding door or screen. Early work Koryusai resembles that of Harunobu but gradually developed his own distinctive style using bright colors (orange its famous!) Expressing a multi-tone and vitality with more realistic figures. Initially, the artists worked in wood in the format chub (approx. 265 x 195 mm) Oban Koryusai presented to the larger format (about 390 x 265 mm) multi-color printing half to create two sets of the masterpiece called 'Sensual Colors, launching a phoenix in the field Twelve wineries and love "that were published in ca.1775. In the format of its most famous series is chubas "Prosperous Flowers Elegant Twelve Stations" (ca.1773) representing the romantic encounters of each of the twelve months.

Conclusion

If examines the literature on the history of Ukiyo-e, and in particular the artist Koryusai you realize the general consensus among critics for its excellent craftsmanship, the originality and pioneer in this Japanese art. With the general recognition of his genius the question of why is so underrated to this day is made more explicit. Probably one of the reasons was Koryusai modest personality and loyalty to his teacher and friend of Harunobu sometimes even sign his name. Jack Hillier poses an interesting theory in his book 'The Japanese print - a new approach "when you choose" Always there, especially among collectors, a tendency to make the comparison between the artist and artist, and Koryusai is perhaps a case of look before and after and pine for what is not.

Important Contemporary

Chobunsai Eishier (1756-1829), Torii Kiyonaga (1752-1815), Choki Eishosai (Act. ca. 1789-1795), Chokyosai Eiri (Act. ca. 1789-1801), Toshusai Sharaku (Act 1794-95), Kitagawa Utamaro (1753 -1806),,
Katsukawa Shuncho (Act. ca.1780s-early 1800), Katsukawa Shunsho (1726-93).

Literature

'Shunga, the art of love in Japan " (1975) - Tom and Mary Evans, "The Complete Ukiyo-e shunga (Vol. 3) (1995) - R. Lane, "Japanese Erotic Prints" (2002) - Inge Klompmakers, 'Japanese Erotic Fantasies "(2005) - C. Uhlenbeck and M. Winkel," Japanese prints - A new approach' (1960) - J. Hillier.

We are specialized in Japanese woodblock prints. Click here for Koryusai's Prosperous Flowers... -series!. Here you can find erotic work of his contemporaries.. Check out these two rare Toy prints (top of the page!)

Spray paint artist