Title : Actor Nakamura Tamashichi I as Kobayashi Asahimaru. Actor Takaoka Gadö II Soga Jurö and Actor Ichikawa Ebizö V as Soga Gorö

Artist : Utagawa Hirosada

Date : 1853

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Source : Honolulu Museum of Art
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Description : Hirosada was one of the most important and prolific designers of Osaka actor prints in the late 1840s and 1850s. The Japanese government's policy known as the Tenpö Reforms restricted the consumption of luxury items. In particular, commoners were not allowed to purchase certain items that were classified as luxuries, which included actor prints. There was a five-year period during which no actor prints were produced. In 1842, the production of such prints was allowed with some restrictions. Hirosada was one of the major artists who worked on the revival of Osaka actor prints. The triptych exhibited here was originally part of a five-print set, but two prints that would have been on the right side are missing. There were two categories of Osaka prints during this time: jözuri (high-class prints) and namizuri (middle-class prints). The prints on display here are high-class prints. We know this for the following reasons: they use gold, they use many colors, and they depict the finest details, such as hairlines and kimono designs. The fact that there were different types of Osaka prints created suggests that during this time demand for these prints arose from various segments of society. (from Kamigata-e exhibition)

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