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| Hirosada: Kataoka Gadô II as Matsugae Tetsunosuke and Arashi Rikan III as Saibara Kageyu, 1848 |
Very little is known about Konishi Hirosada (active ca. 1810-1864 or 1865). However, he was the chief representative of the so-called Osaka school, although he had studied under Utagawa Kunimasu and Utagawa Kunisada in Edo. He used several different names, including Utagawa Hirosada.
As the Osaka school in its entirety, Hirosada devoted himself mainly to kabuki motives, yakusha-e. The Osaka school also distinguished itself by quality of material and extraordinary craftsmanship. Their prints have not aged much. Colours are still almost intact.
Hirosada is sometimes regarded as a genius, and perhaps he was. In any case he was an extraordinarily skilful portraitist, with a style that was expressive without being too garish. A tasteful expressionism. In the kabuki motives he shows a fine sense of drama without exaggerating.
This print is Actors Kataoka Gadô II as Matsugae Tetsunosuke (right) and Arashi Rikan III as Saibara Kageyu (left), in the play Meiboku Sendaihagi, performed at the Chikugo Theatre in Osaka in 1948. The print is a part of the series Tales of Renowned Heroes (Kômei buyû den).