Utagawa Sadakage (Gokotei) (Fl. 1818 - 1844)

Japanese Shunga Handscroll, circa 1825

10” height x 176” length (14.66 feet)

A pupil of Kunisada, Utagawa Sadakage (active 1818-1844) was a somewhat niche-oriented artist specialized in bijinga (female portraits). Stylistically his numerous bijinga occupied the middle ground between Keisai Eisen and Kunisada. Later in his career he went to Osaka.  Not many paintings by Sadakage are known and even fewer shunga works in any medium. 

Custom framed in a hand-milled, hand-stained solid walnut wood frame.  Inspiration for this frame profile was derived from Frank Lloyd Wright's love of simple lines influenced in Japanese architecture.  The scroll is archivally hinged to a museum grade rag substrate and protected with Optium museum anti-reflection, uv-filtering acrylic, structurally supported with a wood strainer backing and multiple crossbars. 

Overall frame dimensions:  12" height x 178" length x 2" depth