The Actor Bando Hikosaburo 2nd as an Oiran in a Gauze Kimono, Standing, Tying Her Obi
ca. 1764
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
27 11/32 x 4 in. (69.5 x 10.2 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Francis Lathrop Collection, Purchase, Frederick C. Hewitt Fund, 1911
Accession Number
JP667
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan (1615–1868), Torii Kiyom, a leading figure in the Torii school ukiyo-e woodblock prints, captured the theatrical glamour of kabuki with striking yakusha-e (actor print). Created around 1764, *The Actor Bando Haburo 2nd as an Oiran in Gauze Kimono,, Tying Her Obi* showcases the renowned onnagata actor Bando Hikosaburo in the role of a high-ranking courtesan, or oiran. These elite entertainers were cultural icons, known for their elaborate attire and poised elegance, blending artistry with sensuality in Tokyo's Yoshiwara pleasure district. Kiyomitsu's ma...
About the Artist
Torii Kiyomitsu · 1735–1785
Torii Kiyomitsu (1735–1785) was a leading master of the Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print tradition and a key figure in the third generation of the celebrated Torii school. Born into an artistic dynasty founded by his ancestor Torii Kiyonobu, Kiyomitsu trained within the family workshop and inherited its deep connections to the Kabuki theater world, for which the Torii school had long designed prom...