The Actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu I as Ike no Shoji in the play "Mangetsu Oguri Yakata," performed at the Ichimura Theater in the eighth Month, 1747

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of 18th-century Japanese kabuki theater with this striking woodblock print by Torii Kiyonobu, a master of the Torii school renowned for its dynamic actor portraits, or *yakusha-e*. Created in 1747, it depicts the celebrated performer Sanogawa Ichim I in the role of Ike no Shoji from the *Mangetsu Oguri Yakata*, staged at the Ichimura Theater Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the eighth lunar month. Kiyonobu II's bold lines and expressive poses capture the actor's dramatic intensity, freezing a fleeting theatrical moment for admirers. This *hosoban* print—narrower than standard formats at just 29.6 × 14.7 cm—employs the *benizuri-e* technique, an early color woodblock method using black outlines and a single rose-pink block for subtle, glowing hues. Affordable and mass-producible, such prints democratized art, serving as playbills, fan souvenirs, and status symbols in ukiyo-e's "floating world" of entertainment. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this piece illuminates Edo-period popular culture, where kabuki stars like Ichimatsu were cultural icons. It showcases how prints bridged theater and everyday life, preserving the era's theatrical splendor for generations.

About the Artist

Torii Kiyonobu II · 1702–1752

Japanese, ca. 1702–1752