The Saruwaka Dance
1804
Medium
Color woodblock print; surimono
Dimensions
38.3 × 52.9 cm (15 1/8 × 20 7/8 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
34944
Art Historical Context
Torii Kiyonaga's *The Saruwaka Dance (1804) is a stunning example of late Edo-period ukiyo, the "pictures of the floating world" that captured Japan's vibrant urban culture. As a leading artist of the Torii school, Kiyonaga specialized in yakusha-e (actor prints) and bijin-ga (images of beautiful women), blending graceful figures with dynamic poses inspired by kabuki theater. This color woodblock print depicts a lively dance performance, likely referencing the renowned Saruwaka lineage of kabuki actors and theaters, evoking the excitement of Edo's entertainment districts. Printed as a *surimo...
About the Artist
Torii Kiyonaga · 1752–1815
Torii Kiyonaga, born Sekiguchi Shinsuke in 1752 in Uraga, Sagami Province, was the son of an Edo bookseller who owned tenements near a bustling fish market. At age 14 in 1765, he began his apprenticeship under Torii Kiyomitsu, the third-generation head of the prestigious Torii school of ukiyo-e, renowned for kabuki theater illustrations and signage. Adopted into the Torii family, Kiyonaga succeede...