Surimono commemorating the 50th anniversary of the death of the actor Iwai Hanshiro III
c. 1809
Medium
Color woodblock print; surimono
Dimensions
42.7 × 30.4 cm (16 13/16 × 12 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
28258
Art Historical Context
Torii Kiyonaga's *Surimono commemorating the 50th of the death of the actor Iwai Hansh III* (c. 1809) is a exquisite color woodblock print that honors one of kabuki theater's most beloved stars. Iwai Hanshiro III, a master onnagata (female role specialist) who dazzled Edo audiences until his death around 175, is evoked through this intimate memorial, blending reverence with the floating world of ukiyo-e artistry. Measuring 42.7 × 30.4 cm, its compact size suits the private nature of surimono—luxurious, limited-edition prints commissioned by poetry clubs or patrons for special occasions. As a ...
About the Artist
Torii Kiyonaga · 1752–1815
Torii Kiyonaga, born Sekiguchi Shinsuke in 1752 in Uraga, Sagami Province, was the son of an Edo bookseller who owned tenements near a bustling fish market. At age 14 in 1765, he began his apprenticeship under Torii Kiyomitsu, the third-generation head of the prestigious Torii school of ukiyo-e, renowned for kabuki theater illustrations and signage. Adopted into the Torii family, Kiyonaga succeede...