In this artwork, how is the Marks of the Print details elucidated?
The print has no visible date, censor or artist seals. The only distinctive mark is the toshidama-in cartouche encasing Sadamasu's signature. A symbol of good luck, this was customarily used by artists of the Utagawa school beginning with Toyokuni I in around 1809. It was Kunisada (Toyokuni III), however, who really claimed the symbol for his school, elongating its round shape and framing the red infill with yellow. In Sadamasu's print, the characteristic yellow outline encloses pale blue infill.
Sadamasu Utagawa school Toyokuni Kunisada Toyokuni I