Explore the Sadamasu I (Kunimasu) about the Artist of the Print details in this artwork.
Sadamasu I (Kunimasu) Sadamasu's personal details are largely unknown, though his output is generally dated to the early 1830s through the early 1850s. He was a wealthy property owner, and possibly operated a shipbuilding company. Sometime between 1828 and 1830 he travelled to Edo to study under Utagawa Kunisada. His earliest known print, signed "eshi Utagawa Sadamasu ga" (painted by Utagawa Sadamasu) [絵師歌川貞升画], dates to early 1830. He officially changed his artist name to Kunimasu [國升 or 國益] in 1848, in recognition of Kunisada's accession to the title Toyokuni.
Kunimasu produced mainly yakusha-e, portraits of kabuki actors active in Osaka. His works are credited with bold use of colour, decisive brushwork and "tour-de-force techniques". Late in his career, he turned to painting, adopting the style of the Shijō school. Kunimasu actively supported Osaka printmaking by opening his own print design school, and directly mentoring many local artists. Among his pupils are: Sadayuki [貞雪] (fl. 1839-1840), Utagawa Hirosada [歌川 廣貞] (fl. 1835-1850s), Masusada [升貞] (fl. 1848-1849) and Sadamasu II [貞升] (fl. 1849).
Sadamasu Edo kabuki Utagawa Kunisada Toyokuni Kunisada Shijō school Osaka