The Second Sawamura Sojuro in the Role of Ume no Yoshibei
2nd month, 1763
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
11 7/8 x 5 7/16 in. (30.2 x 13.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1918
Accession Number
JP467
Tags
Art Historical Context
Torii Kiyoshige's *The Second Sawamura Soj in the Role of Ume no Yosei* (1763) is a captivating woodblock print from Japan's Edo period (16151868), showcasing the famed kabuki actor Sawamura Sojuro II in a dynamic theatrical pose. This yakusha-e, or actor portrait, belongs to the ukiyo-e tradition—"pictures of the floating world"—that celebrated the era's vibrant urban culture, particularly the booming kabuki theater scene in Edo (modern Tokyo). At just 11 7/8 x 5 7/16 inches, these intimate prints were designed for everyday fans, making celebrity culture accessible beyond the theater. Kiyosh...