The Actor Onoe Kikugoro I as Kyo no Jiro in the play "Fujibumi Sakae Soga," performed at the Ichimura Theater in the second month, 1763
Medium
Color woodblock print; hosoban, benizuri-e
Dimensions
31.6 × 14.3 cm (12 7/16 × 5 5/8 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
36234
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of 18th-century Edo theater with *The Actor Onoe Kikug I as Kyo no Jiro in the play "ibumi Sakae Soga,"* a captivating woodblock print by Torii Kiyomitsu, created in 1763. This hosoban-format print—narrow and vertical at just 31.6 × 14.3 cm—depicts the famed kabuki actor in a dramatic pose from a performance at the Ichimura. Kiyomitsu, a master of the Torii, excelled in yakusha-e (actor prints), using bold lines and expressive features to immortalize stars of the stage, blending artistry with celebrity fandom. Printed as a benizuri-e, or "rose-colored print," it sh...
About the Artist
Torii Kiyomitsu I · 1735–1785
Japanese, 1735–1785