Katsukawa Shunsho (1726-92) was one of the first woodblock print designers to create yakusha-nigao-e, or pictures that convey an actor’s actual, rather than idealized, appearance. The growing popularity of Kabuki, a highly stylized and melodramatic form of theater that appealed to Japan’s urban commoners, fostered a demand for images of popular actors. Shunsho’s readily recognizable celebrities were greatly admired and helped evolve a taste for greater artistic realism. Print designers of the Katsukawa School closely emulated Shunsho’s style to create their “likeness” pictures of actors, but some achieved a greater degree of individuality than others. The prints in this exhibition are by artists associated with the Katsukawa School, including Shunsho, the school’s founder, and his top pupils Shunko (1743-1812) and Shun’ei (1762-1819). Images by Shunro, better known as Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), are also included, since this renowned artist began his artistic career in the Katsukawa studio and later credited his success to this early training.