I just went to see the exhibition "SHARAKU" at Tokyo National Museum. It is fortunate that all the works except one that are on loan from overseas museums are here in Japan, after the major earthquake. It is of course an excellent exhibition: A great line-up of works and a clever layout that follows the 10-month career of the mysterious artist.
Theories abound as to who Sharaku was. Though I really don't care who he was, I kept thinking of a theory while I was in the museum. What if "Sharaku" was a group of artists or business persons who promised to carry out the 10-month project under cover? Perhaps the artists took turns and that was the reason for the change of trends within the short period of time?
In any case, it doesn't change the fact that Sharaku has left great works!
