A Hawk on a Cliff near a Kiri Tree

Art Historical Context

Behold *A Hawk on a Cliff a Kiri Tree*, a striking hand-colored woodblock print by Torii Kiyomasu I, created around 1716. As a key figure in the Torii school—one of the earliest ukiyo-easties in Edo-period Japan (1603–1868)—Kiyomasu specialized in vibrant depictions of kabuki actors and beauties. This o-oban sheet, measuring an impressive 55.8 28.8 cm, showcases his versatility in capturing nature's drama, with a majestic hawk perched boldly on a rugged cliff beside a graceful kiri (paulownia) tree, its leaves fluttering in the wind. The tan-e technique, meaning "red picture," marks this as an early innovation in woodblock printing. Artisans hand-applied vivid mineral and vegetable pigments directly onto the paper after carving intricate woodblocks, achieving rich oranges, reds, and subtle gradients before full-color nishiki-e prints became standard. This labor-intensive method highlights the print's status as a luxury item for affluent Edo collectors, blending technical precision with poetic symbolism—the hawk evoking strength and vigilance, the kiri tree nobility and renewal. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this work exemplifies the "floating world" ethos of ukiyo-e: fleeting beauty amid nature's majesty. Visitors will appreciate its bold composition and luminous hues, a window into 18th-century Japan's artistic flowering. (198 words)

About the Artist

Torii Kiyomasu I · 1696–1716

Torii Kiyomasu I was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist working in the early eighteenth century, closely associated with the Torii school, one of the most important lineages in the history of Japanese woodblock printmaking. The Torii school was founded by Torii Kiyonobu, and Kiyomasu I is believed to have been either his son or a close pupil — the precise family relationship remains a matter of scholarly d...