The Actors Ichimura Uzaemon VIII as Oguri Hangan and Segawa Kikunojo I as Terute no Mae - Torii Kiyonobu II

A 1747 woodblock print by Torii Kiyonobu II depicting actors Ichimura Uzaemon VIII and Segawa Kikunojo I in a scene from the kabuki play Mangetsu Oguri Yakata.

This woodblock print by Torii Kiyonobu II captures a specific moment from the kabuki play Mangetsu Oguri Yakata, performed at the Ichimura Theater in the eighth month of 1747. The work depicts the actors Ichimura Uzaemon VIII and Segawa Kikunojo I in their respective roles as Oguri Hangan and Terute no Mae. The Torii school held a long association with the kabuki theatre, and their prints often functioned as promotional material for the actors and their performances.

The composition follows the traditional yakusha-e style, focusing on the theatrical presence of the performers. The figures are rendered with the characteristic bold, sweeping lines associated with the Torii lineage. The artist employs a limited colour palette, typical of the benizuri-e technique, which relies on soft pinks and greens applied to the monochrome ink base. The background features stylised floral elements and tall grasses, providing a decorative frame for the central figures. A small, curious detail at the bottom shows a hanging chime or bell, a common prop in the theatrical staging of the period.

Kiyonobu II was a member of the prominent Torii family, which dominated the production of theatrical imagery in Edo-period Japan. His work reflects the aesthetic priorities of the time, where the emphasis remained on the stylised gestures and elaborate costumes of the kabuki stage. The print serves as a record of the ephemeral nature of theatre, preserving the likeness and costume design of the actors for the public. The paper shows signs of age, with the muted tones providing a sense of historical authenticity to the piece. This print is a representative example of mid-eighteenth-century Japanese graphic art, demonstrating the technical skill involved in early multi-colour printing processes.