Kaigetsudo

Kaigetsudo (kīgĕt'sūdō), school of Japanese artists painting in the ukiyo-e style (see Japanese art). Kaigetsudo was founded by Kaigetsudo Ando in the early 18th cent. Characterized by broad lines, majestic poses, restrained color, and boldly designed costumes, Kaigetsudo paintings depicted the life of courtesans. These works reflect the rise of the mercantile classes and their enthusiasms. Principally painters, the Kaigetsudo artists are better known in the West for their prints, which had a wider distribution.