The Actors Ichikawa Ebizo II as Musashibo Benkei, Sakata Shintaro (?) as Soga no Goro, and Takigawa Kinya (?) as Soga no Juro in the play "Sazareishi Suehiro Genji," performed at the Nakamura Theater in the first month, 1744

Art Historical Context

This vibrant woodblock print by Torii Kiyonobu II captures a dynamic moment from the kabuki play *Sazareishi Suehiroji*, performed at the Theater in Edo (modern Tokyo) during the first month of 1744. It features renowned actors Ichikawa Ebizō II as the warrior monk Musashibō Benkei, alongside Sakata Shintarō (possibly) as Soga no Gorō and Takigawa Kin'ya (possibly) as Soga no Jūrō. These figures draw from popular tales of loyalty, revenge, and heroism—the Soga brothers avenging their father's murder, blended with Benkei's legendary strength—making kabuki a thrilling spectacle for Edo's theatergoers. As a master of the Torii school, Kiyonobu II specialized in *yakusha-e* (actor prints), immortalizing kabuki stars in exaggerated poses that conveyed their dramatic personas. This *hosoban* format—narrow and vertical at just 29.8 × 13.8 cm—was ideal for affordable distribution among fans, reflecting ukiyo-e's "floating world" celebration of urban pleasures during Japan's Edo period (1603–1868). The *benizuri-e* technique, an early color woodblock method using rose-red pigments alongside black outlines and subtle blues or greens, marked a pivotal step toward fuller polychrome printing. Produced in 1744, it exemplifies how prints democratized theater culture, bridging art and everyday life in 18th-century Japan. (198 words)

About the Artist

Torii Kiyonobu II · 1702–1752

Japanese, ca. 1702–1752