SHIGEMASA - Biography

Kitao SHIGEMASA

(1739 - 1820)

Biography

SHIGEMASA Signatures

Signatures of Kitao SHIGEMASA

Artist – Kitao SHIGEMASA (北尾重政), civil name Kitahata Sasuke (北畠佐助), was a Japanese ukiyo-e master in the 17th and early 18th centuries. He was one of the leading printmakers of his days, but his works are widely unknown. He was less active after the rise of Torii Kiyonaga and produced relatively few works considering the length of his career. SHIGEMASA was taught by Shigenaga, probably in the later years of the Horeki period (1751–1764). SHIGE-MASA's pseudonym is inspired by his master's name.

SHIGEMASA has been referred to as "a chameleon" who adopted to changing styles. He is noted for images of beautiful women (bijinga). One of his best works is a set of unsigned prints in Ōban format, which were published under the series title “Beautiful Women in the East, West, South and North” (東西南北美人, Tōzai nanboku bijin). His main activity has been the production of illustrations for Kibyōshi (黄表紙), E-hon (絵本) or other types of stories or illustrated books. He was a close friend of the Ukiyoe artist Katsukawa Shunshō, with whom he worked. Outstanding example is a set of twelve large prints entitled “Rearing Silk Worms” (蚕養い草, Kaiko yashinai-gusa) and another illustrated book with beautiful women (青楼美人合わせて姿鏡, Seirō bijin awase sugata kagami) , which appeared in 1776 and displays the life of courtesans. SHIGEMASA is also noted for his haikai (poetry) and shodō (Japanese calligraphy), some of them are written on his woodblock prints.

Personal life - He was born 1739 in Edo as Kyūgorō (九五郎). Kitao was the eldest son of the bookseller Suhara Saburabei in the Kodemma-chō district in ancient Edo, today's Tokyo. However, he left the inheritance to his younger brother, and decided to become an artist in color woodcut.. SHIGEMASA died March 8, 1820 at the age of 82.

Aliases - He signed as Kitao Shigemasa (北尾重政), Andô Yohei Shigemasa (安藤与兵衛重政), Heikisui (壁水), Hokuhō (北峰), Hokusu Dempu (北鄒田夫), Ichiyōsei (一陽井), Itsujin (逸人), Karan (花藍), Kōsuifu (恒酔夫), Kōsuiken紅翠軒), Kyūkaikyo (弓巍居), Shigureoka Itsumin (時雨岡逸民), Suihō (酸放), Tairei (台嶺). In his later years he used the pseudonym Kōsuisai (紅翠斎)..

Disciples - SIGEMASA was an excellent technician, major calligrapher and poet. He had several disciples and founded the Kitao-Line of Ukiyo-e, including Kitao Masanobu (北尾政信; 1761–1816), better known as Santō Kyōden, Kitao Masayoshi (北尾政美; 1764–1824), also known under the name Kuwagata Keisai (鍬形恵斎; 1764–1824), and Kubo Shumman (窪俊満; 1757–1820). He also had a major influence on younger artists such as Torii Kiyonaga and Kitagawa Utamaro. His successor inheriting his name was Shigemasa II (acting 1809~1847) ( ErDai Shigemasa, 二代重政). There is speculation, that Shigemasa II maybe the master or a kind of tutor for Hiroshige III (広重三代), who used the pseudonym Shigemasa as well.

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