The Actors Sanogawa Ichimatsu I and Segawa Kikunojo I as lovers under an umbrella

Art Historical Context

In the vibrant world of 18th-century Edo Japan (modern-day Tokyo), Ishikawa Toyobu's *The Actors Sanogawa Ichatsu I and Segawaunojo I as Lovers an Umbrella* (c. 1740s) captures the theatrical glamour of kabuki. This color woodblock print depicts two celebrated onnagata—male actors specializing in female roles—embracing intimately beneath a shared umbrella, evoking a from a romantic play. Toyonobu, a ukiyo-e artist and pupil of Nishimura Shigen, excelled in yakusha-e (actor prints), blending dynamic poses with expressive faces to immortalize stars like Sanogawa Ichimatsu I and Segawa Kikunojo I, whose real-life friendship fueled onstage chemistry. Printed in the benizuri-e technique—a two-block method using black outlines and a rosy beni (pink) layer for subtle color—this oban-sized sheet (42.6 × 29.9 cm) represents an early milestone in multicolored woodblock printing, predating full-color nishiki-e by decades. Toyonobu's precise lines and bold compositions highlight the "floating world" of pleasure quarters and theater, making elite entertainment accessible to commoners. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, this print underscores kabuki's cultural dominance during the Genroku era's aftermath, where actor portraits fueled fan culture and celebrity worship, much like today's idols. A window into Japan's playful, gender-fluid performing arts, it invites us to ponder the artistry behind illusion.

About the Artist

Ishikawa Toyonobu · 1711–1785

Japanese, 1711–1785