The Actor Matsumoto Koshiro II as Fuwa Banzaemon in the play "Monzukushi Nagoya Soga," performed at the Ichimura Theater in the first month, 1748

About this artwork

The scene is from the drama The Happy Couple of Nagoya, which was presented at the Nakamura theater in August 1742. Torii Kiyoshige’s mastery of portraiture is evident in this image.

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 18th-century Japanese theater with Torii Kiyoshige's *The Actor Matsumoto Koshiro as Fuwa Banza in the play "Monzukushi Nagoya S"*. Created in 1748, this hand-colored woodblock print captures star kabuki actor in his dramatic role during a performance at the Ichimura Theater Edo (modern-day Tokyo). The Torii school, to which Kiyoshige belonged pioneered yakusha-e—actor portraits that blurred the line between art and advertisement, immortalizing performers' expressive poses and elaborate costumes for theater-loving fans. This slender *habahiro hashira-e* (pillar print), measuring 65.3 × 15.1 cm, was designed to hang vertically on narrow pillars in homes or teahouses, its *urushi-e* technique using lacquer-like glues for rich, glossy colors that pop with life. Early woodblock printing like this made art accessible beyond elites, fueling ukiyo-e's "floating world" culture of fleeting pleasures. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, it offers a window into Edo-period kabuki's cultural frenzy, where revenge tales like the Soga brothers' saga enthralled audiences. A testament to printmaking's innovation, Kiyoshige's work highlights theater's star power and the artistry behind the spectacle.