HIROSADA, KONISHI (SADAHIRO)
... AND THE PRINTS IN THIS OFFERING

The first artist to reappear after reform, in early 1847, was Sadahiro. It appears that, probably out of fear of the censorship laws, Sadahiro chose to reverse the characters of his name and in 1847 called himself Hirosada.

Hirosada appears to have issued a number of oban compositions at first but rapidly confined himself to the chuban format. Authorities estimate that Hirosada produced voluminous single-sheet chuban designs between 1847 and 1852. It has been further stated that between 1847 and late I848 Hirosada concentrated on polyptych chuban bust portraits. These bust portraits are numerous whereas the kabuki scenes by Hirosada are rarer. The subject matter in Osaka kabuki of this period are usually of the "stories of lovaltv and fidelity, with the title often enclosed in a cartouche of modified toshidama design.

In mid-1849. Hirosada began to produce full-figure chuban polvptvchs depicting scenes of performances with full background as in the prints depicted in this exhibit and sale. As you can see the backgrounds of these Kabuki scenes are resplendent and profuse in detail befitting the post-reform era. Might the backgrounds of Hiroshige inspired this?

Hirosada dominated the Osaka print world for five years with his artistry, brilliance and productivity. Throughout his dominance he used a dozen different publishers. His productivity was probably occasioned by the intense activity in the Osaka theater from 1848 for a ten year period.

Nakamura Utaemon IV's return to the kabuki stage was a powerful influence on Hirosada and on his print production from 1850 until 1852 when Nakamura Utaemon died. After the abstinence of the reform era, this theatrical revival with its spectacular performances and numerous star players stirred great interest and popularity. Thusly, Hirosada was inspired to produce chuban polyptychs which through his artistry and his and the theaters' universal appeal sold well.

Unfortunately, Hirosada did not leave a strong operating school and his prints in effect stand alone.

You judge for yourself.

GENERAL CONDITION - APPLICABLE TO EACH PRINT SOLD IN THIS OFFERING

These particular prints being offered are in a chuban format and were placed in an album for their preservation and enjoyment. Placing the prints in an album has exquisitely preserved their condition and color. In so placing them, it was necessary to mount them (backing) and to in some cases to trim clear margins and to, ever so slightly, trim the print to fit that format. All of the triptychs and quadriptychs have a fold at the extreme left hand edge of the right hand print. These folds are expertly done as not to affect the esthetic quality of the prints and were necessary to accommodate placing them in the album. Triptych No 212223 has an additional fold at the extreme left hand edge of the center print again esthetically done and necessary for that triptych to be mounted in the album. The measurement of the prints in this format is 7 3/8th inches in width by 9 7/8th inches in length or 185 millimeters in width by 252 millimeters in length.