Ryūkōsai Jokei

Examples of the signatures of Ryūkōsai Jokei

Woodblock print by Ryūkōsai Jokei of kabuki actor Yoshizawa Iroha in the role of Ariwara no Narihira

Ryūkōsai Jokei (琉光斎　女圭) was a designer of ukiyo-e style Japanese woodblock prints, painter, and illustrator in Osaka, who was active from about 1777 to 1809. He was a student of Shitomi Kangetsu (1747-1797), who in turn was the son and pupil of Tsukioka Settei (1710-1786). Ryūkōsai is considered to be either the founder or one of the founders of the Osaka school of ukiyo-e. He is best known for his biting portraits of actors . His prints are mostly in the hosoban format.

Pupils of Ryūkōsai include Shôkôsai Hanbei and Urakusai Nagahide.

Bibliography

• Keyes, Roger S. & Keiko Mizushima, The Theatrical World of Osaka Prints, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1973, 238.
• Lane, Richard, Images from the Floating World, The Japanese Print, New York, Putnam, 1978, 318.
• Newland, Amy Reigle, The Hotei Encyclopedia of Japanese Woodblock Prints, Amsterdam, Hotei Publishing, 2005, Vol. 2, 482.
• Roberts, Laurance P., A Dictionary of Japanese Artists, Tokyo, Weatherhill, 1976, 134.