The Actors Ichimura Kamezo I and Takinaka Hidematsu I - Torii Kiyonobu II

A 1746 woodblock print by Torii Kiyonobu II depicting actors Ichimura Kamezo I and Takinaka Hidematsu I in a scene from the play Ichi no Tomi Seiwa Nendaiki.

This woodblock print by Torii Kiyonobu II depicts the actors Ichimura Kamezo I and Takinaka Hidematsu I in their roles as Urashima Taro and Kanemoto Gozen. The scene originates from the theatrical production Ichi no Tomi Seiwa Nendaiki, performed at the Ichimura Theater in Edo during the fifth month of 1746. The Torii school held a long association with the kabuki theatre, and this work reflects the stylistic conventions of the mid-eighteenth century.

The composition features the two figures sheltered beneath a large, patterned umbrella. The artist employs a balanced arrangement, with the actors positioned centrally against a simplified background. The lines are precise and controlled, characteristic of the early ukiyo-e tradition. The figures wear elaborate kimono adorned with floral motifs, which contrast with the muted, linear representation of the surrounding environment. The inclusion of flying birds and a suggestion of a bridge provides context to the narrative setting of the play.

Kiyonobu II was a member of the Torii family, a lineage that dominated the production of theatrical prints for decades. His work often focused on the exaggerated poses and expressive features of kabuki performers. This print serves as a record of a specific performance, capturing the costume design and the physical presence of the actors of the period. The use of a limited colour palette, typical of benizuri-e or early multi-colour printing techniques, allows the focus to remain on the graphic quality of the robes and the interaction between the two characters. The print is a clear example of the commercial and artistic collaboration between the printmaker and the theatre industry in Edo-period Japan.