Program of the ten day performance celebrating the succession of Ichimura Uzaemon XIII
Medium
Color woodblock print
Dimensions
36.8 × 48.3 cm (14 1/2 × 19 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
34947
Art Historical Context
Step into the lively world of Edo-period kabuki theater with this stunning color woodblock print by Torii Kiyomitsu II, also known as Kiyomine (active 1840s–1850s). Created in 1851, the artwork serves as a program for a ten-day performance celebrating the succession Ichimura Uzaemon, a prominent kabuki actor. Measuring 36.8 × 48.3 cm, it captures the excitement of theatrical tradition, where actors adopted storied stage names passed down through generations, marking prestige and continuity in Japan's performing arts. As a master of the Torii school—renowned for yakusha-e (actor prints)—Kiyomi...