The Actor Onoe Kikugoro I as Tokiwa in the play "Tonozukuri Genji Junidan," performed at the Ichimura Theater in the eleventh month, 1744 1744

This ukiyo-e print by Torii Kiyomasu II depicts the famous kabuki actor Onoe Kikugoro I as Tokiwa from the play "Tonozukuri Genji Junidan." The play was performed at the Ichimura Theater in Edo in 1744, and the print, created in the same year, captures the actor in a moment of dramatic intensity. The vibrant colors and intricate details of the print, including the flowering branches and birds, create a sense of theatricality and spectacle. The ukiyo-e style, a popular art form in Edo-era Japan, was known for its depiction of everyday life, entertainment, and popular culture, and Kiyomasu II was one of the leading artists in this genre. This particular print, a valuable glimpse into the world of kabuki theater in 18th-century Japan, is housed at The Art Institute of Chicago.