The Actors Takinaka Hidematsu I and Sanogawa Ichimatsu I
c. 1745
Medium
Color woodblock print; hosoban, benizuri-e
Dimensions
30.8 × 14 cm (12 1/8 × 5 1/2 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
19263
Art Historical Context
This striking color woodblock print by Torii Kiyonobu II captures two celebrated kabuki actors of the mid-eighteenth century: Takinaka Hidematsu I and Sanogawa Ichimatsu I. Created around 1745, the work belongs to theii school, renowned for its elegant portrayals of the stage. The narrow hosoban format emphasizes the actors’ graceful poses and distinctive costumes, inviting viewers to imagine the lively atmosphere of Edo-period theaters. The print employs the benizuri-e technique, an early form of color woodblock printing that relies primarily on delicate pink and green tones. This method, ac...
About the Artist
Torii Kiyonobu II · 1702–1752
Japanese, ca. 1702–1752