Like most producers of kamigata-e prints originating in the Osaka and Kyoto regionshe specialized in yakusha-e actor prints. Hirosada is particularly known for his diptychs and triptychs, and for his many kubi-e portraits of the leading actors on the Osaka kabuki stage during his day. Although Hirosada has been acknowledged as “the most important and prolific mid-nineteenth century Osaka designer, ” little is known about his personal life. Those biographies which refer to his life dates identify his birth year as unknown and the year of his death as 1864 or 1865. Art historians link his activity to between 1810 and 1865. He is believed to have apprenticed with prominent Osaka artist Utagawa Kunimasu , and to have studied alongside Kunimasu in Edo in the early 1830s under Utagawa Kunisada. Following the relaxation of the Temp Reforms in 1847, Hirosada became a major designer of medium-sized chban prints, the format championed by his mentor Kunimasu. He was highly prolific, working mainly in the kabuki-e and yakusha-e genres. He is particularly known for his many kubi-e lit. “Large head” portraits of the leading actors on the Osaka kabuki stage, which he began to produce in 1841. As a testament to his productivity, Gerstle notes, In the period up to 1852 Hirosada designed approximately 800 single-sheet prints, making him the most prolific of the Osaka print artists by far and unquestionably a’professional’. Hirosada produced designs for a number of Osaka-based publishing houses including Kitakagawa, Kyoisa, Isakichi, Kawato, Tenki and Meikd. Among his students were the artists Hironobu , Sadayuki and Sadahiro II. The latter succeeded Hirosada as both Sadahiro II and Hirosada II. In keeping with the custom for Edo period artists, Hirosada used a number of different g art names throughout his career, including Gostei Hirosada , Gorakutei Hirosada and Utagawa Hirosada. Born Kymaruya Seijir, he apparently began his artistic career as Hirokuni (/), switching to Hirosada in mid-1847. He is associated with various artist seals including Goch, Sada, K, Ch, Sadahiro and Gostei. Some scholars have linked Hirosada’s name changes with an intent to evade censorship; however, it was not uncommon for artists of the period to adapt or adopt new names on a whim. In addition to these recognized names, some scholars have suggested that Hirosada and his contemporary Osaka artist Utagawa Sadahiro fl. According to Keyes, there is a strong, though unproven case for believing that Gostei Hirosada… Was the well-known artist Sadahiro I. Evidence for this, Keyes argues, can be found in stylistic similarities between the two artists’ work, the similarity of the artists’ names (the same two characters reversed [hiro] + [sada] vs [sada] + [hiro]) and signatures, the two artists’ use of the same’Gostei’ g, and the appearance of the’Sadahiro’ seal on some prints signed by Hirosada. Art historians are quick to acknowledge Hirosada’s stature and influence: he was “the most importantand prolificOsaka print designer of the post-Tenpô period, ” “the central figure of mid-nineteenth century Osaka printmaking, ” and one of the finest portraitists of the nineteenth century. “[20] In the 1840s and 1850s he produced over eight-hundred single-sheet prints, “outnumbering by far the output of any of his contemporaries. His prints are “among the finest and most individual of the whole ukiyo-e genre, ” and among some of the finest character portraits produced anywhere in the world. In terms of format, the majority of his works from 1847 and later are medium-sized chban rather than the previously dominant larger ban size. He produced kabuki-e almost exclusively, and was particularly celebrated for his polytychsmainly diptychs and triptychsand kubi-e actor portraits. Stylistically his polytychs are noted for “imaginative placements, unusual cropping of figures and descriptive physiognomies, ” and the subtle but inventive interplay among the figures. ” Hirosada has been credited with an “instantly recognisable, ” “insightful, ” “exceptionally expressive and dramatic style. Critics have praised the “clarity and self-assurance” of his drawing, and his simple, sophisticated style which avoids “flashy” enhancements. [29] As Keyes notes, Hirosadas prints are an exploration of the depth and meaning of human relationships. They are intimate and direct. Other Japanese artists had portrayed the timeless, fragile and unchanging aspects of human life. Hirosada celebrated the separate, unrepeatable, unique, human event. The item “Konishi Hirosada Eiyuu Den Japanese Woodblock Snake Cobra Battle” is in sale since Friday, September 14, 2018. This item is in the category “Antiques\Asian Antiques\Japan\Prints”. The seller is “enfinity8″ and is located in Denver, Colorado. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, South africa, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Viet nam.

• Primary Material: Paper
• Age: 1800-1849
• Original/Reproduction: Antique Original
• Region of Origin: Japan
• Maker: Ichirysai Yoshitoyo
• Color: Blue