Acteur Iwai Hanshiro IV in het dagelijks leven
1782 - 1786
Medium
color woodcut
Dimensions
148; 329
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
blad: hoogte 329 mm (hosoban) x breedte 148 mm
Art Historical Context
Torii Kiyonaga's *Acteur Iwai Hansiro IV in het dagelijks leven* (Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV in Everyday Life), created between 1782 and 1786, a captivating glimpse into Edo-period Japan through the lens of ukiyo-e, the "pictures of the floating world" that celebrated fleeting pleasures like theater and daily life. Kiyonaga, a master the Torii school renowned for yakusha-e (actor prints), masterfully blends portraiture with subtle narrative, depicting the celebrated kabuki onnagata (female role specialist) Iwai Hanshiro IV in a relaxed, off-stage moment. This hosoban-format woodcut—narrow and vertical at 329 mm high by 148 mm wide—was designed for affordable display in homes, making high culture accessible to urban merchants and enthusiasts. Printed as a vibrant color woodcut (nishiki-e or "brocade picture"), the work showcases Kiyonaga's innovative techniques: precise carving on multiple woodblocks for layered colors, delicate gradations (bokashi), and fine lines that convey texture and movement. His style marked a shift toward more naturalistic figures and elegant compositions, influencing later ukiyo-e giants like Utamaro and Hokusai. Culturally, this print underscores kabuki's star power in 18th-century Japan, where actors like Hanshiro IV were idols whose images fueled fan culture. It humanizes the performer, bridging theater's glamour with everyday intimacy—a testament to ukiyo-e's role in democratizing art during Japan's vibrant Edo era.
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...