The Actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu I as Hisamatsu

Art Historical Context

Behold *The Actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu I as Hisamatsu a captivating hand-colored woodblock print by Nishimura Shigenaga, created around 1743. This work from Japan's Edo period (1603–1868) exemplifies *ukiyo-e*, the "pictures of the floating world" that celebrated fleeting pleasures like kabuki theater. Shigenaga, a master of the Torii school, vividly captures the famed actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu I in his role as the lovesick Hisamatsu from a popular drama, showcasing the star's expressive pose and elaborate costume amid swirling robes and dynamic patterns. The print's *hashira-e* format—tall and narrow at 65.5 × 15.3 cm—made it ideal for hanging on household pillars, bringing theater glamour into everyday life. Shigenaga employed the innovative *urushi-e* technique, using thick, glossy black glue for outlines that mimic lacquer's shine, enhanced by hand-applied colors for luminous depth. This early refinement in woodblock printing marked a shift toward more refined actor portraits (*yakusha-e*), influencing later giants like Utamaro and Hiroshige. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, this piece immerses us in 18th-century Japan's vibrant performing arts culture, where prints democratized celebrity and storytelling for urban audiences.

About the Artist

Nishimura Shigenaga · 1690–1758

Nishimura Shigenaga (c. 1697–1756) was a pioneering Japanese ukiyo-e printmaker born in Edo (modern-day Tokyo), where he initially worked as a landlord in the Tōriabura-chō district before relocating to Kanda-Sakumachō to operate a bookshop. Self-taught with no known formal teacher, he immersed himself in art around 1719, drawing early inspiration from the Torii school's yakusha-e (actor portraits...