HIROSADA. Yakusha-e. Osaka. Chuban. Portrait of... Lot 237

HIROSADA. Yakusha-e. Osaka. Chuban. Portrait of actor Kataoka Gadô II. Bust portrait of an actor against a black background.Portrait of actor Kataoka Gadô II, almost identical to the one represented in the print in which he depicts as Chinzei Hachirô Tametomo in Shimameguri tsuki no yumiharizuki (A bow-shaped moon around the islands) at the Ônishi Theater, Osaka.Hirosada, fl. 1819 - 1865, was one of the most successful printmakers from Osaka during the Edo period (1603-1868). It is thought that he was the pupil of Kunimasu Utagawa. Hirosada produced many yakusha-e, or "actor prints." Depicting Kabuki scenes and famous actors, the genre's popularity peaked during Hirosada's career. His work is known for his exceptionally expressive and dramatic style of portraiture. Hirosada's work can be found in a number of collections including the Victoria & Albert Museum, the British Museum and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.