In the context of Two Actors in Samurai Roles (Gosotei Hirosada), explain the Series of the Image.
The prints are taken from the print series 高名武勇伝 (Kōmei buyūden), which is translated as "Tales of Brave Warriors of Renown" or "Tales of Renowned Heroes." Hirosada produced multiple albums of this type including over one hundred heroic warrior images as single sheets and polytychs, including 忠孝武勇伝 (Chūka buyūden) ("Tales of Loyalty and Filial Devotion") also issued in 1848. Doesburg has argued that such print collections reflect an attempt to circumvent censorship of kabuki-themed ukiyo-e under the Tenpō Reforms by cloaking the dramatic content in titles that imply the promotion of moral values and "suggesting that the portraits were actually representations of famous men and women from history and legend." Although these images date from the period immediately after the easing of the Tenpō restrictions, they appear to be riding this trend.
ukiyo-e kabuki