Man with a Petition

by Sadanobu II (1848 - 1940)

Current Status

Man with a Petition by Sadanobu II (1848 - 1940)

Original Sadanobu II (1848 - 1940) Japanese Woodblock Print
Man with a Petition

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 - Intriguing Osaka kabuki scene of a man presenting a petition to a court official. He brandishes the message in his upright hand, grimacing as he looks to the side. At lower right, the official looks up from the long scroll in his hand. The samurai at left has his eyes fixed on the petition, staring at it intently, while the nobleman in the center watches him, and the samurai at right looks up at the nobleman. A screen at right features white peonies. A colorful design with interesting interaction between the figures. Most Osaka kabuki prints are in the smaller chuban size, so oban size triptychs like this are not seen often.

Artist - Sadanobu II (1848 - 1940)

Image Size - 13 3/4" x 27 3/4" + top margin as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Three attached panels, backed with paper. Slight toning. Please see photos for details. Good overall.

Man with a Petition by Sadanobu II (1848 - 1940)
Man with a Petition by Sadanobu II (1848 - 1940)