The Actor Ichikawa Danjuro II as Soga no Goro and Nakamura Takesaburo I as Kewaizaka no Shosho in the play Bando Ichi Kotobuki Soga - Torii Kiyonobu I

A classic sumizuri-e woodblock print by Torii Kiyonobu I, depicting a 1715 kabuki performance with bold, expressive line work.

This woodblock print, executed in the sumizuri-e style, depicts a scene from the kabuki play Bando Ichi Kotobuki Soga, performed at the Nakamura Theater in Edo in 1715. The work features the actor Ichikawa Danjuro II in the role of Soga no Goro, positioned alongside Nakamura Takesaburo I, who portrays Kewaizaka no Shosho. The Torii school, founded by Kiyonobu I, held a near-monopoly on the production of theatrical posters and prints during this period, and their house style is clearly visible here.

The composition employs the characteristic bold, sweeping lines associated with the early Ukiyo-e tradition. The figures are rendered with a focus on the dramatic posturing typical of the kabuki stage. The artist uses a monochromatic palette, relying entirely on the strength of the ink line to define form, gesture, and costume. The background is suggested through minimal architectural elements and a hanging wisteria vine, which provides a sense of setting without distracting from the primary subjects. In the background, secondary figures are visible behind a railing, adding depth to the theatrical space.

Sumizuri-e prints of this era were often hand-coloured by the purchaser, though this example remains in its original monochrome state. The print serves as a record of the specific performance styles and costume designs of the early eighteenth-century Japanese theatre. The emphasis on the actors' physical presence and the stylised nature of their movements reflects the broader aesthetic concerns of the Torii school, which sought to capture the energy of the performance for the urban audience of Edo. The work remains a primary source for the study of early kabuki iconography and the development of the actor print genre.