Utagawa Sadafusa
Utagawa Sadafusa (active 1825-1850) was a pupil of Kunisada, and eventually became a teacher himself to Ishosai Fusatane. His prints are similar in style to those of his master. His favorite subjects were bijin-ga, beautiful women, but he also took themes from Kabuki.
New Year's Street Scene: Geisha Walking on
the Street Holding the Gathered Hem of Her Hem, ca.1832
The print bears the inscription "keshiki" ("scenery") placed on the right side of the scene. Sadafusa shows a fashionable geisha walking on a street in a kimono with the pattern of fukujuso (adonis). The design indicates that the season is New Year: fukujuso is the first blooming flower of the year. In the background there are building roofs and two kites with actors' crests. The kite on the right shows the crest of Bando Mitsugoro; and the one on the left shows the crest of Iwai Kumesaburo.