The Actor Ichikawa Masuzo I as Soga no Goro in the play "Tokitsukaze Irifune Soga," performed at the Nakamura Theater in the first month, 1758

Art Historical Context

This vibrant woodblock print by Torii Kiyomitsu captures the kabuki actor Ichikawa Maso I in the role of Soga nooro from the play *Tokitsukaze Irifune Soga*, performed at Tokyo's Nakamura Theater in early 1758. Created during Japan's Edo period, when kabuki theater was a cultural phenomenon, the image immortalizes a dramatic moment from the legendary tale of the Soga brothers revenge—a story that captivated audiences with its themes of loyalty and vendetta. Kiyomitsu, a master of the Torii school renowned for yakusha-e (actor prints), skillfully conveys the performer's expressive pose and elaborate costume, bridging the worlds of stage and street art. Printed in the hosoban format—a narrow, half-length sheet measuring just 31.8 × 14.7 cm—this benizuri-e (rose-colored print) represents an exciting transitional technique in ukiyo-e history. Using hand-applied colors like safflower red (beni) alongside black lines and subtle blues or greens, it predates the full-spectrum nishiki-e prints of later decades. Affordable and mass-produced, such prints brought kabuki stardom to everyday viewers, fueling the "floating world" of urban entertainment. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this piece highlights how ukiyo-e democratized high art, blending artistry with popular culture in 18th-century Japan.

About the Artist

Torii Kiyomitsu I · 1735–1785

Japanese, 1735–1785