Kaigetsudō Doshin

The Kaigetsudō school (懐月堂派, -ha) was a school of ukiyo-e painting and printmaking founded in Edo around 1700–1714. It is often said that the various Kaigetsudō artists' styles are so similar, many scholars find it nearly impossible to differentiate them; thus, many Kaigetsudō paintings are attributed to the school's founder, Kaigetsudō Ando, which may have been in fact painted by his disciples. The school's founder, Ando Yasunori, known by his art-name (gō) Kaigetsudō Ando, was a specialist in bijinga, images of beautiful women. Unlike his disciples, Ando produced only paintings, never prints. His style, and that of the school, draws strongly upon the style of the Torii school, which is known primarily for its theater signboards. The style of both schools is distinguished by its use of thick lines and bright colors. However, the Kaigetsudō style is said to depict subjects in a very stereotyped manner, which is in sharp contrast to the style of the Torii school. The Kaigetsudō artists are known primarily for their prints of bijin with very colorful and complex patterns on their kimono. While these images may be seen as displaying fashion designs, it is far more likely that the artists...