Sugoroku Players
c. 1750
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban, benizuri-e
Dimensions
43.5 × 29.3 cm (17 1/8 × 11 1/2 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
19696
Art Historical Context
**Sugoroku Players** by Torii Kiyohiro, created around 1750, captures a lively moment from Japan's vibrant Edo-period "floating world" (ukiyo-e). This color woodblock print depicts enthusiasts engrossed in sugoroku, a traditional board game akin to backgammon, popular during festive New Year's gatherings. As a master of the Torii schoolrenowned for dynamic actor portraits (yakusha-e)—Kiyohiro infuses the scene with theatrical energy, showcasing elegant figures in flowing robes amid playful competition. The oban format (a generous 43.5 × 29.3 cm) allowed for intricate details, making it ideal f...
About the Artist
Torii Kiyohiro · 1737–1776
Torii Kiyohiro (active 1737–1776) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist and a member of the celebrated Torii school, one of the oldest and most distinguished lineages in the history of Japanese woodblock printing. The Torii school had been founded in the late seventeenth century and built its reputation on the creation of billboards and illustrated programs for the Kabuki theater in Edo, and Kiyohiro carr...