Eleven Actors Celebrating the Festival of the Shrine of the Soga Brothers
1788
Medium
Color woodblock print; hosoban, nishiki-e, pentaptych
Dimensions
31.8 × 71.0 cm (total); 31.1 × 13.8 cm (first sheet from the right), 31.8 × 14.6 cm (second sheet from the right), 31.4 × 14.5 cm (third sheet from the right), 31.5 × 14.3 cm (fourth sheet from the right); 31.4 × 13.8 cm (fifth sheet from the right) 31.8 × 71.0 cm
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
190422
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of 18th-century Japan, Torii Kiyonaga's *Eleven Actors Celebrating the Festival the Shrine of the S Brothers* (1788) captures the exuberant spirit of kabuki theater. This woodblock print, a *nishiki-e* or "brocade picture" renowned for its rich, multi-layered colors achieved through intricate carving and precise printing, unfolds as a *pentaptych*—five narrow *hosoban* sheets that join to form a panoramic scene measuring 31.8 × 71.0 cm. Kiyonaga, a leading figure in the ukiyo-e tradition of the "floating world," masterfully renders actors in dynamic poses, evoking the lively festival honoring the legendary Soga Brothers, heroes of a popular revenge tale central to kabuki drama. Produced during the Edo period's cultural boom, when theater prints (*yakusha-e*) were avidly collected by urbanites, this work showcases Kiyonaga's elegant style: fluid lines, subtle gradations of color, and a sense of movement that draws viewers into the celebration. The narrow format, typical for actor portraits, allows intimate details—like flowing robes and expressive faces—while the full assembly creates a theatrical tableau. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, this print highlights ukiyo-e's technical innovation and enduring appeal, bridging art and everyday spectacle for Edo Japan's pleasure-seeking crowds. A true gem for fans of Japanese printmaking!
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...