Yanagawa Shigenobu

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Shigenobu signature seal.

Double page print from an illustrated shunga book by Yanagawa Shigenobu (1787-1832), a pupil of Hokusai. Size: chubon; Colored ink on paper; ca.1820; Private collection

Yanagawa Shigenobu (柳川重信 Yanagawa Shigenobu, 1787–1832) was a Japanese painter in the ukiyo-e style. He was active in Edo from the Bunka period onward; His Osaka period dated from 1822 to 1825. In Edo, he resided in Honjo Yanagawa-chô district. He was first the pupil, then son-in-law, and finally adopted son of the Edo master printmaker Katsushika Hokusai. He designed illustrated books, prints, and surimono. In Osaka, he worked with the gifted block cutter and printer Tani Seikô.

Shigenobu focused on theatrical subjects, but some of his best work in Osaka includes a series of deluxe ôban prints depicting geisha in the Shinmachi Nerimono parade in Osaka, and approximately 30 fine surimono on various subjects (at least 18 in collaboration with the Tsuru-ren Crane Group of kyôka poets), with blocks cut and printed by Seikô.

His pupils included Kuninao; Shigeharu; Yokinobu(?); Shigemasa; Shigemitsu.