The Actor Tamazawa Saijiro in an unidentified role
c. 1740
Medium
Hand-colored woodblock print; hosoban, urushi-e
Dimensions
33.4 × 15.7 cm (13 1/8 × 6 1/4 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
19123
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of 18th-century Japanese theater *The Actor Tamazawa Saij in an unidentified role*, captivating hand-colored woodblock print Torii Kiyomasu II, created around 1740. As a master of the Torii school—one of the pioneering families in ukiyo-e (pictures of the floating world)—iyomasu II specialized in yakusha-e, portraits of Kabuki actors that captured the drama and allure of Edo-period stage life. This hosoban format, a narrow vertical sheet roughly 33.4 × 15.7 cm, was perfect for affordable, displayable souvenirs sold near theaters, bringing the excitement of performan...
About the Artist
Torii Kiyomasu II · 1706–1763
At one point this artist was incorrectly identified as Kiyonobu II.