Focus on Actor Ichikawa Shiko as Kato Yomoshichi (Gosotei Hirosada) and explain the Artist.
Despite his status as "the most important and prolific mid-nineteenth century Osaka designer," little is known of Hirosada's personal details. The few biographies listing his life dates identify his birth year as unknown and that of his death as 1864 or 1865. Art historians link his activity to between 1810 and 1865. He has been acknowledged as "the central figure of mid-nineteenth century Osaka printmaking." He was very prolific, producing predominantly kabuki-e and yakusha-e chūban prints. He is particularly known for his ōkubi-e (lit. "large head") portraits of leading Osaka actors such as this print.
Hirosada used a number of gō art names throughout his career, including Gosōtei Hirosada (五粽亭廣貞), Konishi Hirosada (小西廣貞) and Utagawa Hirosada (歌川廣貞). He apparently began his career as Hirokuni (廣國/ 広国), switching to Hirosada in mid-1847. Some have suggested that Hirosada and his contemporary Utagawa Sadahiro (歌川貞廣) (fl. 1830-1847) were the same person; however, this remains unproven.
kabuki Gosōtei Hirosada Konishi Hirosada fl.