Gosōtei Hirosada (五粽亭広貞)

Gosōtei Hirosada (五粽亭広貞) was a prolific printmaker active during the mid-nineteenth century, with documented production dates spanning 1845 to 1857. The artist specialized in ukiyo-e prints, focusing on theatrical subjects and actor portraits characteristic of the period.

The majority of Gosōtei Hirosada’s documented output focuses on dramatic narratives and figures. A significant body of work is drawn from the series A Tale of Valor at Iga Pass, which includes specific portraits such as Mimasu Daigoro IV as Yamada Takakage, Nakamura Utaemon IV as Karaki Masaemon, and Nakayama Nanshi II as Otani. Other represented works, such as Kinugawa Tanizō in A Mirror of Brave and Loyal Wrestlers (Chūkō Sekitori Kagami), confirm the artist’s concentration on popular cultural figures of the era.

Eight Gosōtei Hirosada (五粽亭広貞) prints are preserved in museum collections, confirming the historical importance of the artist’s contribution to printmaking. These high-quality prints are held in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Cleveland Museum of Art. Today, many of these historical artworks are considered public domain and are frequently available as downloadable artwork reproductions.