Sadahiro
(active after 1850)

mameban deluxe diptych.each approx. 8 x 11 cm

Natakmura Utaemon IV (right) as the blind hero Kagekiyo and Nakamura Tamashichi I as his daughter Musume Hitomaru.

After Hirosada's chuban diptych "Megami no Kagekiyo"

Hirosada
(active 1820 - 1860)

Igagoe buyuden
Tale of Bravery at Iga Pass

subtitle:
Keisei homare no sukedachi
The Courtesan and the Proud Second in Battle

Performed at Naka Theater 1/1850 (Kaei 3)
Standad printing; the deluxe edition was published by Kyoisa.

a. Nakamura Utaemon IV as Karaki Masaemon (r.) on a veranda listening to ? as Rokuhachi.

b. Two swordsmen with blunt swords are locked in combat, and a third has taken a tumble, under the watchful eyes of Nakamura Utaemon IV as Karaki Masaemon (l.) and Mimasu Daigorô IV as Honda Naiki (r.).

Two episodes from a popular story of revenge. The brother of a murdered samurai tracked the killer over all Japan with the aid of Karaki Masaemon and finally confronted him at Iga Pass. The drama, first performed in 1777, was based on a historical incident of 1634.

A detailed summary of the legend Igagoe Dôchû Sugoroku that was the blueprint for this play you can find here.
A short summary of the story in Roger S. Keyes, Hirosada Osaka Printmaker, p. 103.
Hirosada designed at least ten diptychs, a triptych and three singlesheet prints to illustrate different scenes from this performance.

Lit.: Roger S. Keyes, Hirosada Osaka Printmaker, Long Beach, 1984, p. 103
Kitagawa, "Bosuton bijutsukan shozô Kamigata-e mokuroku" (Kansai daigaku, 2007), p. 105; Ikeda bunko, Kamigata yakusha-e shûsei, vol. 4 (2003), #237
Dean J. Schwaab "Osaka Prints", London 1989, fig.218

The first print as deluxe edition:

Sadahiro
(active after 1850)

mameban (approx. 8 x 11 cm) after a diptych by Hirosada showing the actor Nakamura Tomosa II as the boatman Yojibei.
The copied original by Hirosada with Nakamura Utaemon IV as Katô Masakiyo (r.) and Nakamura Tomosa II (l.) in the kabuki play Keisei Kiyome no Funauta, performed 1/1851



Additional picture and info from commons.wikimedia.org

Sadahiro
(active after 1850)

Genkobei is about to kill Kikuno. He suspected her of having an affair with Sangobei, but after killing her he discovered it was untrue.

mameban triptych (each sheet approx 8 x 11 cm) from the play Godairiki Koi no Fujime by the author Namiki Gohei I after a chuban triptych by Hirosda.

Actors / roles (r.t.l.): Nakamura Utaemon IV as Gengobei, Mimasu Daigorô IV as Sangobei and Nakayama Nanshi II as Kikuno
Play performed: 8/1851 (Kaei 4)
First staged May 1794 in Kyôto at the Nishi no Shibai Theater.

Lit.: Kitagawa, "Bosuton bijutsukan shozô Kamigata-e mokuroku" (Kansai daigaku, 2007), p. 105; Ikeda bunko, Kamigata yakusha-e shûsei, vol. 4 (2003), #387
Lubor Hajek "Hirosada", Artia, Prague 1959, p.89 & pic.33

Hirosada's version from Hajek's book:



An earlier oban sized version by Shigeharu with Nakamura Utaemon III as Katsuma Genkobei and Sawamura Kunitaro II in the role of Kikuno, published 7/1826 by Honsei (Hon-ya Seishichi) found at auctionukiyoe.com .

Hirosada
(active 1820 - 1860)

Nakamura Utaemon IV as Danshichi Mohei and Nakayama Nanshi II as Tomi

Play: Yadonashi Danshichi shigure no karakasa (Homeless Danshichi: An Umbrella in the Rain) performed at the Naka Theater 5/1851

Signature and seal: Hirosada / Konishi Gocho
Publisher: Kinkado
Foramt: chuban
Lit.: Roger S. Keyes, Hirosada Osaka Pritmaker, Long Beach, 1984, p. 117 plate 49


Sadahiro

mameban deluxe triptych after a chuban triptych by Hirosada.
each approx. 8 x 11 cm, cut from one sheet and glued together in an album.

Actors / roles (from right to left): Mimasu Daigoro IV as the playwriter Namiki Shozo, Nakamura Utaemon IV as Danshichi Mohei, Nakamura Nanshi II (= Nakayama Nanshi II) as Tomi.
Play: Yadonashi Danshichi shigure no karakasa (Homeless Danshichi: An Umbrella in the Rain) performed at the Naka Theater 5/1851
Lit.: Lubor Hajek "Hirosada", Artia, Prague 1959, p.91 pic.33, Roger S. Keyes, Hirosada Osaka Pritmaker, Long Beach, 1984, p. 117


Hirosada's version from 1851 (morra-japaneseart.com):




From Hajek's book:

Hirosada
(active 1820 - 1860)

Actors / roles (left to right): Jitsukawa Enzaburô I as Nagoya Sanza, Nakamura Utaemon IV as Fuwa Banzaemon and Mimasu Daigorô IV as Sasaki Kurando
Play: Act 4 of Inazuma Sôshi / Satomoyô Kabuki no Inazuma performed 9/1850 (Kaei 3) at the Naka Theater
Publisher: Kawaoto
Dimension: vertical chuban triptych
Lit.: Kitagawa, "Bosuton bijutsukan shozô Kamigata-e mokuroku" (Kansai daigaku, 2007), p. 106; Ikeda bunko, Kamigata yakusha-e shûsei, vol. 4 (2003), #313

Utagawa Kuniyoshi
(1797 – 1861)

Five Warriors Likened to Five Famous Horses of Great Men

五将軍見立五人男馬超

Actor / Schauspieler: Kanjaku (poetry name of Nakamura Utaemon IV)
Role / Rolle: Token Gombei
Signature / Signatur: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga
Publisher / Verleger: Ise-ya Sanjuro
Date / Datierung: 1843
Dimension / Format: oban tate-e, 25.5 x 36 cm
From the collection of B.W. Robinson, the author of "Kuniyoshi - Warrior Prints"

Utagawa Kuniyoshi
(1797 – 1861)


The actor Nakamura Utaemon IV in a scene from the Kabuki play Ki-ichi, performed in the 8th 1849

Der Schauspieler Nakamura Utaemon IV in einer Rolle des Kabuki Stücks Ki-ichi. aufgeführt im achten Monat des Jahres 1849

Signature / Signatur: Kuniyoshi ga, with / mit Kiri seal / Siegel
Publisher / Verleger: Ebiya Rinnosuke
Date / Datierung: c.1849
Dimension / Format: oban tate-e, 23.5 x 35 cm

Aus der Sammlung von B.W. Robinson, Autor des Buches "Kuniyoshi - Warrior Prints".

The complete triptych:
(l.to r.): Nakamura Utaemon IV as Kiichi Hogen, Bando Shuka as Tarozo aka Ushiwakamaru
and Sekisanjuro II as Chienai aka Yoshioka Kisanta

Hirosada
(active 1820-60)

Attributed to be a scene of the Kabuki play "Hatsuebisu Fukuyatokuwaka"

(right to left) Jitsukawa Enzaburo I as Mukadeya Kingoro, Nakamura Tamashichi I as the apprentice Komakichi and Nakamura Utaemon IV as Tokuwaka Saizo.
Performed at the Naka Theater in the first month 1851.

Publisher: Kinkado
Date: 1851
double chuban tate-e

Thanks to J.V. for identifying the actors and the play.

Hirosada
(active 1820-60)

top
Okubi-e of two not identified actors

bottom
Okubi-e of Nakamura Utaemon IV as the ghost Takechi Samanosuke and
Nakamura Tamashichi I as Sutewakamura in the Kabuki play Keisei Chigo-ga-Fuchi.

1852
each chuban tate-e, 16,5 x 25 cm


A similar print, showing another play, can be found in "Hirosada - Osaka Printmaker", 1984 by The Unversity Art Museum; p.72, number 56