{"product_id":"hirosada-actor-as-lion-dancer-with-peony-costume","title":"Hirosada: Actor as Lion Dancer with Peony Costume","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist: Konishi (Gosotei) Hirosada \u003c\/strong\u003e五綜亭広貞 \u003cstrong\u003e(ca. 1810-1864)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate: \u003c\/strong\u003e1850\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eBold design of a kabuki actor wearing the lion mask headdress and robe decorated with bronze medallions and red peony flowers. This costume is one that would have been worn in the classic dance-drama Shakkyô.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eShakkyô was originally a Noh play, and the story involves a traveling priest who falls asleep beside a miraculous Stone Bridge (Shakkyô) that leads to Manjushri’s Pure Land and dreams of a lion dancing amidst peonies. Lions are considered messengers of the bodhisattva Manjushri (Monju Bosatsu). The lion dance then appeared in kabuki prints in the 18th century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe American artist Michael Knigin (1942-2011) created a lithograph “after” this work in 1979, with the New York City skyline implanted\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003ebehind the figure. This artwork is of course a very scarce example of the original print from ca. 1850 by Hirosada. The signature has been printed with a shaded black\/grey atop a deep gold\/bronze background. The deep blue in this artwork is made up of ground mineral, perhaps lapis lazuli. The nose of the actor also includes blindprinting to create dimension. These Osaka-printed works are known for their surimono-like printing–this work has metallic pigments and embossing, feats of printing on a level of expertise that has been lost to time. There is the number “Three” at bottom left, indicating that this was probably the left hand portion of a three-part work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eExcellent impression and color; very good condition. With a very light backing and handwritten pencil notes in Japanese, verso.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 24.7 x 17.5 cm (chuban)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hirosada","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42524300968018,"sku":"OSA058","price":850.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0079\/3388\/6546\/files\/OSA058.jpg?v=1785046383","url":"https:\/\/egenolfgallery.com\/ja\/products\/hirosada-actor-as-lion-dancer-with-peony-costume","provider":"Egenolf Gallery Japanese Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}