(b Edo [now Tokyo], 1761; d Edo, 1816). Japanese print designer, book illustrator and writer. Together with Kitao Masayoshi (1764–1824) and KUBO SHUNMAN, he was one of KITAO SHIGEMASA’s most brilliant students. He made his début in ukiyoe (‘pictures of the floating world’) in 1778 with his illustrations for the kibyoshi (‘yellow cover books’; comic novels) Kaicho ryaku no meguriai. During the next few years he produced illustrations for popular novels, in the manner of other artists in the Kitao studio. At the same time he began to design single-sheet prints, including yakushae (‘pictures of actors’). In the early 1780s Masanobu illustrated extravagant ehon (‘picture books’) and kyoka (‘crazy verse’) books and also produced nishikie (‘brocade pictures’; full-colour prints) series of bijinga (‘pictures of beautiful women’). In 1783 he published his most famous work, Seiro meikun jihitsushu (‘Collection of writings of the wise ruler of the greenhouses’; woodblock-print; London, BM; see fig.), which consists of 14 tate oban (‘standing large format’) nishikie prints of seven groups of beauties. Each print focuses on a well-known courtesan of Edo’s Yoshiwara pleasure quarter with a selection of her writings in the background. The prints are unique, intellectual portraits of the women, but lack sensual charm. In 1784 the series was retitled Yoshiwara keisei shin bijin awase jihitsu kagami (‘A mirror of writing comparing new beauties of the Yoshiwara’; London, BM) and published as an album.

• Kitao Masanobu
  • collaboration
    • Japan, §IX, 3(iii)(c): Prints, c 1780–c 1800
  • teachers
    • Kitao Shigemasa
  • works
    • Japan, §IX, 3(iii)(c): Prints, c 1780–c 1800
    • illustrated
      • Utagawa: (5) Utagawa Kunisada I