The Actor Ichikawa Ebizo II as Shinozuka Goro in the play "Funayosooi Mitsugi Taiheiki," performed at the Nakamura Theater in the eleventh month, 1743

Art Historical Context

In the vibrant world of 18th-century Edo (modern-day Tokyo), Torii Kiyomasu II crafted this striking woodblock print in 1743, capturing kabuki star Ichikawa Ebizō II in the role of the loyal warrior Shinozuka Gorō from the play *Funayosooiugi Taiheiki*. Performed at the famed Nakamura Theater during the eleventh lunar month, the image freezes a dramatic moment from this historical drama, showcasing the actor's expressive pose and elaborate costume—hallmarks of kabuki's theatrical flair. As a master of the Torii school, Kiyomasu II specialized in *yakusha-e* (actor prints), a cornerstone of ukiyo-e, the "pictures of the floating world" that celebrated Japan's urban pleasures like theater and fashion. This *hosoban* format—narrow and vertical at just 31.2 × 14.7 cm—made it affordable and collectible, often pasted into albums or fans, democratizing art for everyday enthusiasts. The *urushi-e* technique, using glossy black lacquer for bold outlines, combined with meticulous hand-coloring, lends the print a luminous, jewel-like quality rare in early woodblocks. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, it exemplifies how such prints preserved kabuki's cultural pulse, bridging elite performance with popular devotion.

About the Artist

Torii Kiyomasu II · 1706–1763

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