The First Day of Business (Akinai hajime), from the illustrated book "Colors of the Triple Dawn (Saishiki mitsu no asa)"

Art Historical Context

Torii Kiyonaga's *The First Day of Business (Akinai hajime)*, created around 1787, captures the vibrant energy of Edo-period Japan in a color woodblock print from the illustrated book *Colors of the Triple Dawn (Saishiki mitsu no asa)*. As a master of the ukiyo-e tradition—literally "pictures of the floating world"—Kiyonaga specialized in depicting graceful women and everyday urban scenes, blending the refined Kamigata style with bold Edo aesthetics. This oban-sized page (26.1 × 38.8 cm) showcases his signature elongated figures and harmonious compositions, evoking the bustling streets of 18th-century Tokyo on a shop's opening day. Printed using intricate woodblock techniques, where separate blocks were carved for each color and meticulously registered, the artwork exemplifies the golden age of Japanese printmaking. Kiyonaga's innovative use of subtle gradations and expansive formats brought a sense of depth and narrative intimacy to ehon (illustrated books), making art accessible to a wide audience beyond the elite. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, this print highlights the cultural fascination with commerce, community, and feminine beauty in late Edo society. It invites visitors to imagine the chatter of merchants and the dawn of new ventures, a timeless snapshot of Japan's floating world.

About the Artist

Torii Kiyonaga · 1752–1815

Torii Kiyonaga, born Sekiguchi Shinsuke in 1752 in Uraga, Sagami Province, was the son of an Edo bookseller who owned tenements near a bustling fish market. At age 14 in 1765, he began his apprenticeship under Torii Kiyomitsu, the third-generation head of the prestigious Torii school of ukiyo-e, renowned for kabuki theater illustrations and signage. Adopted into the Torii family, Kiyonaga succeede...