The Actor Ichikawa Masuzo I as Soga no Goro in the play "Tokitsukaze Irifune Soga," performed at the Nakamura Theater in the first month, 1758
Medium
Color woodblock print; hosoban, benizuri-e
Dimensions
31.8 × 14.7 cm (12 1/2 × 5 3/4 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
19855
Art Historical Context
This vibrant woodblock print by Torii Kiyomitsu captures the kabuki actor Ichikawa Maso I in the role of Soga nooro from the play *Tokitsukaze Irifune Soga*, performed at Tokyo's Nakamura Theater in early 1758. Created during Japan's Edo period, when kabuki theater was a cultural phenomenon, the image immortalizes a dramatic moment from the legendary tale of the Soga brothers revenge—a story that captivated audiences with its themes of loyalty and vendetta. Kiyomitsu, a master of the Torii school renowned for yakusha-e (actor prints), skillfully conveys the performer's expressive pose and elab...
About the Artist
Torii Kiyomitsu I · 1735–1785
Japanese, 1735–1785