Osaka Prints - Produced in the Kansai region, including Osaka and Kyoto, Osaka prints or kamigata-e are instantly distinguishable from typical Edo ukiyo-e. A major difference is the choice of subject matter. Osaka prints were nearly always portraits of actors or kabuki scenes. In contrast, Edo print subjects included beauties, landscapes, nature scenes, warriors, and historic events, in addition to kabuki.

Distinctly different artistic styles also emerged in Edo and Osaka in the 18th and 19th century, resulting in certain recognizable characteristics for each area. Osaka prints feature more subtle, serious figures, reflecting the wagoto or soft style of acting prevalent in the area, along with distinctive facial expressions. The aragato or brash manner of acting popular in Edo influenced print designs towards bolder images of heroism and military prowess.

Much like the style of the prints, the demand for ukiyo-e in the cities of Osaka and Edo also varied. Osaka produced far fewer ukiyo-e designs than Edo did. As a consequence, Osaka prints are rarer and also some of the highest quality prints made in the 19th century, with many featuring deluxe techniques such as burnishing or embossing. Osaka prints are a rare and wonderful collecting area of Japanese woodblocks.

Comments - Incredible four-panel kabuki print showing actors offstage paying a visit to a shrine at dawn on the Day of the Hare. At far left, a woman in a blue-striped kimono leans over backwards, stroking the chin of a man crouching behind her who appears tangled in her long sleeve. In the second panel, a couple exchanges angry scowls, the woman staring wide-dyed over her shoulder at her companion. Behind them, several children amuse themselves by running and jumping along a curved wooden bridge over the water. In the third panel, a beauty wears a robe shaded from pale orange to light blue with a border of a flowing vine, and she carries a pinwheel. At right, a woman carries a toy hobbyhorse over her shoulder. The plaza is surrounded by stone lanterns beneath rows of pine trees, and the rooftops of the shrine complex spread out across the distance beneath clouds shaded with pink edges. The second panel shows Iwai Shijaku I and Arashi Rikan II; the third panel features Ichikawa Danzô V, Fujikawa Tomokichi II, and Asao Kuzaemon II; and the fourth panel includes Nakamura Utaemon III (Shikan) and Nakamura Matsue III. A terrific image with expressive figures, attractive color, and a wonderfully detailed setting. A great example of kamigata-e, prints from the Osaka region, rarely seen complete. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has this image in its collection.

Artist - Shigeharu (1803 - 1853)

Image Size - 13 1/2" x 38 3/8"

Condition - With excellent color and detail as shown. Four panels, not attached at the seams. Vertical crease near left edge of third and fourth panels. A few small wormholes, repaired, blends well. Slight soiling, slight rubbing near edges. Please see photos for details. Good overall.