Sadanobu: The geisha Kinuha
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Hasegawa Sadanobu (1809-1879)

The geisha Kinuha of the Kyôki house at the annual costume procession in the Shimanouchi pleasure quarters of Osaka. She is dressed as the angel-like female from the legend resp. the Nô-play "Hagoromo" (The Feather Robe). She is holding a Shô, a mouth organ made of bamboo, as used in the ancient Gagaku court music. The text left to the title cartouche says "Yamamura Goto konomi" (in Yamamura Goto's taste), a reference to the designer of these festival costumes.

Title: Hagoromo - Kyôkiya Kinuha

Series: Shimanouchi Nerimono (Costume Parade in Shimanouchi)

Signature: Hasegawa Sadanobu ga

Seal: Nansôrô

Publisher: Honsei (Shôhonya Seishichi), Ôsaka

Date: 1836, 6th month

Size: Vertical Ôban, 36,5 x 23,5 cm

Deluxe print. Excellent impression, with relief printing and rich use of different metal pigments, very nice colours. As often, the left margin slightly trimmed. Backed. Some old soiling, else very nice condition.
Rare. The only print by Sadanobu in this beautiful series of 12 (known) colour woodblock prints by several Kamigata artists. The depiction of beauties from the entertainment district was, compared to Edo, rather unusual in Osaka.
Ill. in: Dean J. Schwaab, Osaka Prints, London 1989, p. 238f, no. 268. Cf. also Lühl, Schätze der Kamigata, Luxembourg, 2012, p. 99f, no. 201. Cf. also MFA Boston, Bigelow Coll., no. 11.26588 a.o.

€ 1.200,-