Portraits of Six of the 47 Ronin

by Sadamasa (active circa 1840s - 1850s)

Current Status

Portraits of Six of the 47 Ronin by Sadamasa (active circa 1840s - 1850s)

Original Sadamasa (active circa 1840s - 1850s) Japanese Woodblock Print
Portraits of Six of the 47 Ronin

A Fuji Arts Special Offer Auction

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.

Artist - Sadamasa (active circa 1840s - 1850s)

Image Size - Each image 4 1/4" x 3"+ margins as shown; page size 14 1/2" x 6 1/2"

Condition - This print with excellent detail as shown. Large losses at side, a few wormholes, repaired. Creasing and wrinkling, slight toning and soiling, a few spots. Please see photos for details.

Portraits of Six of the 47 Ronin by Sadamasa (active circa 1840s - 1850s)
Portraits of Six of the 47 Ronin by Sadamasa (active circa 1840s - 1850s)

Auction Rules and guidelines

This Auction Falls Under Our Standard Auction Rules and Guidelines

If you are a new bidder, please read the Rules and Guidelines page before bidding.