The Actor Sawamura Sojuro II (formerly Utagawa Shirogoro) as Matsuomaru and Azumo Tozo I as Sakuramaru in the play "Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami," performed at the Morita Theater, 1750
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban, benizuri-e
Dimensions
44.8 × 31.9 cm (17 1/2 × 12 1/2 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
19750
Art Historical Context
This vibrant woodblock print by Ishikawa Toyonobu captures dynamic moment from the 1750 kabuki production of *Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kag* at Tokyo's Morita Theater. portrays two stars of the stage: Sawamura Sōjūrō II (formerly Utagawa Shirōgorō) as the loyal Matsuomaru and Azuma Tōzō I as Sakuramaru. Toyonobu, a prominent ukiyo-e artist the mid-18th century and pupil of Nishimura Shigenaga, specialized in yakusha-e—actor portraits that celebrated the theatrical world's glamour and drama during Japan's Edo period. Printed in the benizuri-e technique, this oban-format work (44.8 × 31.9 cm) repr...
About the Artist
Ishikawa Toyonobu · 1711–1785
Japanese, 1711–1785