Yakusha Sangai Kyo
Medium
Book
Dimensions
15.5 × 21.5 cm (6 1/8 × 8 1/2 in.)
Classification
book
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
153564
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan *Yakusha Sangai Kyo* (1801), a captivating book by Utagawa Toyok I, one of the masters of ukiyo-e "pictures of the floating world" that celebrated theater, beauty, and everyday pleasures. Toyokuni, active from the late 18th to early 19th century, renowned for his dynamic yakusha-e portraits of kabuki actors, capturing their dramatic poses and expressive faces with bold lines and vivid colors. This compact volume, measuring just 15.5 × 21.5 cm, likely served as an illustrated album (ehon) showcasing actors in roles inspired by Buddhist concepts of...
About the Artist
Utagawa Toyokuni I · 1777–1835
Japanese, 1777–1835