Knocking the snow from a pair of clogs

Art Historical Context

**Knocking the Snow from a Pair of Clogs** by Torii Kiyomasu II (active c. 1700–1763) captures a charming slice of everyday life in Edo-period Japan during the 1730s. As a master of the Torii school, Kiyomasu II specialized in ukiyo-e—"pictures of the floating world"—woodblock prints that celebrated the transient pleasures of urban culture, from theater actors to graceful women in daily routines. This intimate scene likely depicts a figure brushing snow from traditional geta clogs, evoking the quiet beauty of a winter moment amid Japan's bustling Yoshiwara pleasure district or city streets. Printed in the narrow hosoban format (31.8 × 14.9 cm), this hand-colored urushi-e exemplifies early 18th-century innovation. Urushi-e, or "lacquer prints," achieved a glossy sheen by mixing glutinous rice paste into the inks, mimicking luxurious lacquerware before multi-block color printing revolutionized the medium in the 1760s. Hand-coloring added vibrant hues, making these affordable prints accessible to a wide audience, from merchants to samurai. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, this work highlights ukiyo-e's cultural role in democratizing art. It reflects the Torii school's influence on kabuki theater visuals and bijin-ga (beauty prints), preserving fleeting seasonal joys and meticulous craftsmanship that paved the way for masters like Hiroshige and Utamaro. A delightful window into Japan's vibrant past! (198 words)

About the Artist

Torii Kiyomasu II · 1706–1763

At one point this artist was incorrectly identified as Kiyonobu II.