The Harugoma Dance
c. 1764
Medium
Color woodblock print; o-oban yoko-e, benizuri-e
Dimensions
30.2 × 43.1 cm (11 7/8 × 16 15/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
19913
Art Historical Context
Torii Kiyomitsu I's *The Harugoma* (c. 1764) is a vibrant color woodblock print from Japan's Edo period, exemplifying the ukiyo-e tradition of capturing fleeting moments of beauty and theater. As a leading figure in the Torii school—renowned for yakusha-e portraits of kabuki actors—Kiyomitsu masterfully depicted performers in dynamic motion, likely enacting the lively Harugoma dance, a celebratory folk performance blending music and acrobatics. Printed in the generous o-oban yoko-e format (30.2 × 43.1 cm), its horizontal composition immerses viewers in the energy of the stage. This benizuri-e...
About the Artist
Torii Kiyomitsu I · 1735–1785
Japanese, 1735–1785