Sparrowhawk (Konori taka)

Art Historical Context

Behold the striking *Sparrowhawk (Kon taka)* by Torii Kiyomasu I, created around 1716. This hand-colored woodblock print, the vertical o-oban format measuring an impressive 55.2 × 28.6 cm, exemplifies early Edo-period artistry from Japan's ukiyo-e tradition. Housed in the Art Institute Chicago's Arts of Asia, it captures the fierce elegance of the sparrowhawk—a bird of prey revered in Japanese culture for its speed and precision. Kiyomasu I, a key figure in the Torii school founded by his contemporary Torii Kiyonobu I, helped pioneer the bold, theatrical style of yakusha-e (actor prints) that popularized kabuki culture. Yet this work ventures into nature themes, showcasing the school's versatility during the vibrant Genroku era, when woodblock prints democratized art for urban audiences in Edo (modern Tokyo). The tan-e technique—hand-coloring with vegetable-based dyes—lends a luminous, textured vibrancy rare in later mass-produced nishiki-e prints. This labor-intensive method highlights the printmaker's skill, making each impression unique and bridging painting with reproducible art, a revolutionary step in Japanese visual culture. A testament to ukiyo-e's enduring allure!

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...