Nakamura Sukegoro I holding a sword
c. 1757
Medium
Color woodblock print; o-hosoban, benizuri-e
Dimensions
36.9 × 16.9 cm (14 1/2 × 6 5/8 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
19217
Art Historical Context
Behold the striking portrait *Nakamura Sukegoro holding a sword* by Torii Kiyosh, a master of the Torii school from Japan's vibrant Edo period (c. 1757). This color woodblock print captures theuki actor Nakamura Sukeg I in a dynamic pose, sword in hand, embodying the theatrical intensity of yakusha-e—actor prints that celebrated the stars of ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating." Kiyoshige's bold lines and expressive style helped popularize these affordable images among everyday fans, turning theater icons into cultural celebrities. Printed in the innovative benizuri-e technique, this o-hoso...