The Actor Nakamura Matsue as Oshichi in the play "Fujibumi Sakae Soga," performed at the Ichimura Theater in the second month, 1763
Medium
Color woodblock print; hosoban, benizuri-e
Dimensions
30.5 × 13.4 cm (12 × 5 1/4 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
19870
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant theater scene of 18th-century Edo (modern Tokyo), Torii Kiyom I captures the kabuki star Nakamura Matsue in the role of Oshichi from the play *Fujibumi Sakae Soga*. Produced in 1763 for a performance at the prestigious Ichimura Theater, thisblock print exemplifies *yakusha-e*—actor portraits that turned performers into cultural icons. Kiyomitsu, a master of the Torii school, infused his works with dynamic poses and expressive faces, blending realism with stylized drama to evoke the "floating world" of ukiyo-e entertainment. This narrow *hosoban* format (30.5 × 13.4 cm) was idea...
About the Artist
Torii Kiyomitsu I · 1735–1785
Japanese, 1735–1785