The Actor Sawamura Sojuro I as Soga no Juro
c. 1732
Medium
Hand-colored woodblock print; hosoban, urushi-e
Dimensions
30.5 × 15.3 cm (12 × 6 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
19442
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of 18th-century Edo (modern Tokyo), Torii Kiyoshige's *The Actor Sawamura Soj I as Soga no Juro* (c. 1732) captures the dramatic flair of kabuki theater. This hand-colored woodblock print portrays the famed actor Sawamura Soj I in the role of Soga nouro, one of the loyal Soga brothers from a popular revenge tale that enthralled audiences. Kiyoshige, a master of the Torii schoolpioneers of ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world")—excelled in yakusha-e, or actor prints, which immortalized stage stars and fueled the era's celebrity culture. Printed in the narrow hosoban fo...