The Actor Sanogawa Mangiku I

Art Historical Context

In the vibrant world of 18th-century Edo (modern-day Tokyo), Torii Kiyomasu II the charisma of kabuki theater with *The Actor Sanogawaiku I* (c. 1731). As a master of the Torii school Kiyomasu specialized in yakusha-e—prints celebrating star actors like Sanogawa Mangiku I, a leading onnagata (female impersonator) whose graceful poses and expressive features drew huge crowds to the playhouses. This hand-colored woodblock print exemplifies ukiyo-e, the "pictures of the floating world" genre that immortalized fleeting pleasures like theater and urban life. The narrow hosoban format (32.7 × 15.6 cm) made it an affordable, portable souvenir for fans, while the urushi-e technique—applying nikawa glue before printing—lent a luxurious, lacquer-like sheen to the colors, enhancing the actor's kimono and skin tones with a glossy allure rare in early prints. Hand-coloring added vivid reds and golds, highlighting dramatic details like flowing robes and intense gaze. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, this piece reflects kabuki's cultural dominance during the Genroku era's golden age of entertainment. It wasn't just art; it was celebrity merch, bridging theater and everyday life for Edo's pleasure-seekers.

About the Artist

Torii Kiyomasu II · 1706–1763

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