The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro II as Soga no Goro and Nakamura Takesaburo I as Kewaizaka no Shosho in the play "Bando Ichi Kotobuki Soga," performed at the Nakamura Theater in the first month, 1715

Art Historical Context

This vibrant hand-colored woodblock print by Torii Kiyonobu captures a thrilling moment from the 1715 Kabuki production *Bando Ichi Kotobuki Soga* at the Nakamura Theater in Edo (modern Tokyo). It features kabuki stars Ichikawa Danjūrō II as the fierce warrior Soga no Gorō and Nakamura Takesaburō I as Kewaizaka no Shōshō, frozen in dramatic poses that highlight their expressive faces and flowing costumes. Produced in the narrow *hosoban* format ( 30 x 15 cm), this *tan-e* print—characterized by its subtle, earthy tones before the advent of full-color *benizuri-e*—was designed for affordable distribution among theater fans. As a master of the Torii school, Kiyonobu pioneered *yakusha-e* (actor prints), blending bold outlines, dynamic composition, and meticulous hand-coloring to immortalize kabuki's larger-than-life performers. Dating to the early 18th century, this work reflects the booming ukiyo-e tradition, celebrating the "floating world" of entertainment during Japan's Genroku era. Its small size made it perfect for personal collections, offering a window into Edo's vibrant theater scene where stories of loyalty and revenge, like the Soga brothers' tale, captivated audiences. A gem in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, it showcases how prints democratized art and stardom.

About the Artist

Torii Kiyonobu I · 1664–1729

Torii Kiyonobu I (1664–1729), born Shōbei in Osaka, was the second son of Torii Kiyomoto, a prominent kabuki actor specializing in onnagata roles and a painter of theater signboards. He studied painting under his father as well as Yoshida Hanbei and Hishikawa Moronobu, the pioneering ukiyo-e master whose figure styles profoundly shaped his early work. In 1687, at age twenty-four, Kiyonobu accompan...