The Actors Ichikawa Danjuro II as Onio Shinzaemon and Ichikawa Masugoro as Soga no Goro in the play Furiwake-gami Hatsugai Soga - Torii Kiyonobu II

A 1735 woodblock print by Torii Kiyonobu II depicting Ichikawa Danjuro II in the kabuki play Furiwake-gami Hatsugai Soga.

This woodblock print by Torii Kiyonobu II captures a specific moment from the kabuki play Furiwake-gami Hatsugai Soga, performed at the Ichimura Theater in Edo during the first month of 1735. The composition features Ichikawa Danjuro II in the role of Onio Shinzaemon, a character known for his strength and dramatic presence. The artist employs the bold, assertive line work characteristic of the Torii school, which held a monopoly on the production of theatrical posters and actor portraits during this period.

The figure is depicted with exaggerated facial features and a powerful stance, typical of the aragoto style of acting associated with the Ichikawa lineage. The actor wears elaborate, patterned robes that fill the frame, demonstrating the attention to costume detail that defined early eighteenth-century theatrical prints. Behind the figure, a row of arrows is arranged, providing a rhythmic, vertical structure to the background. The colour palette is restrained, relying on subtle blue-green tones and ink-black lines to define the form against the paper ground.

Torii Kiyonobu II was the second head of the Torii school, following in the footsteps of his father, Kiyonobu I. His work reflects the transition from the early, hand-coloured prints to the more refined techniques of the mid-Edo period. The print serves as a record of the theatrical culture of the time, documenting both the performers and the specific aesthetic conventions of the kabuki stage. The inclusion of calligraphic text at the top provides context regarding the play and the actors involved, integrating the written word with the visual representation of the performance.