A parody of Narihira's eastern journey
c. 1764
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban, benizuri-e
Dimensions
27.9 × 41.4 cm (11 × 16 5/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
44118
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of 18th-century Edo Japan, Torii Kiyomitsu I (1734–1785), a leading figure of the Torii school, created *A Parody of Narihira's Eastern Journey* around 1764. This color woodblock print reimagines a famous episode from the classical *Tales of Ise* (Ise Monogatari), where the Heian-era poet Ariwara no Nhira embarks on an adventurous journey eastward. Kiyomitsu transforms this literary tale into a playful *mitate-e*—a popular genre of parody—likely featuring kabuki actors or courtesans in contemporary attire, blending high culture with the bustling urban life of the floating ...
About the Artist
Torii Kiyomitsu I · 1735–1785
Japanese, 1735–1785