Shunsen Natori (名取春仙,Natori Shunsen; February 7, 1886 – March 30, 1960) was a Japanesewoodblock printer, considered by many to be the last master in the art ofkabukiyakusha-e "actor pictures".
He was born Natori Yoshinosuke, the fifth son of a silk merchant, inYamanashi Prefecture. His family settled inTokyo shortly after his birth, where he remained until his death in 1960.[1]
From the age of eleven he studied with traditionalNihonga (Japanese-style) painterKubota Beisen, and was given his artist's name "Shunsen". He subsequently studied at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts.[1]
Natori Shunsen developed an interest inkabuki actor portraits while working as an illustrator for the newspaperAsahi Shimbun. During this time, he had the opportunity to meet the publisherWatanabe Shōzaburō, who was the primary force behind theshin-hanga movement.[1]
In 1925, Natori and Watanabe worked together on a series of 36 actor portraits. This series contains some of Natori's finest kabuki designs. Watanabe lavishly produced each print in a limited edition of 150 and sold them only by subscription. The series lasted through 1929, followed by a supplemental series of 15 actor prints produced through 1931.[1]
Natori's actor portraits were mainly in theōkubi-e (large head) format which allowed him to focus on the expression and emotions of the character's face.[1]
He continued to work as an artist in thekabuki theater, but did not design any other actor prints until the early 1950s. From 1951 to 1954, he again collaborated with Watanabe on another series of 30 actor prints. Like the earlier series, these designs were beautifully printed and are very expressive, especially theōkubi-e portrait.[1]
His 22-year-old daughter died of pneumonia in 1958. He and his wife committed suicide by poison at their daughter's grave two years later.[2]
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