The Actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu l as a young man
c. 1742
Medium
Hand-colored woodblock print; habahiro hashira-e, beni-e
Dimensions
64.7 × 16.5 cm (25 1/2 × 6 1/2 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
21466
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of 18th-century Japanese theater *The Actor Sanogawa Ichatsu I as a Young Man* by Torii Kiyosh, created around 1742. A master of the Torii school,oshige specialized in *yakusha-e*—colorful prints celebrating kabuki actors. This hand-colored woodblock print portrays the rising star Sanogawa Ichimatsu I in his youthful prime, capturing the charisma and drama of Edo-period performers who enthralled audiences in Tokyo's bustling playhouses. The artwork's format, *habahiro hashira-e* (a narrow pillar print measuring 64.7 × 16.5 cm), was designed for hanging on narrow ar...