Torii Kiyotada

Torii Kiyotada was an important figure in the early development of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock printing, with an active career documented between 1705 and 1740. Working primarily in the genre of actor prints (yakusha-e), Kiyotada specialized in dynamic portrayals of performers and scenes from the Kabuki stage, providing essential visual documentation of the popular theater during the Genroku and Kyōhō eras.

The artist’s primary subjects were the celebrated actors of his time. Seven of his known Torii Kiyotada prints are represented in major international collections. Notable among these works are the dramatic depictions of performers in action, including Ichikawa Danjūrō II in the Scene "Wait a Moment" (Shibaraku) and Ichikawa Danjūrō II (?) Performing Shibaraku in the Ichimura Theater. Kiyotada also focused on single-figure studies, such as Actor as a Samurai Youth and the depiction of the pleasure quarter, The Courtesan Komurasaki (Tayu Komurasaki).

Kiyotada’s historical significance is confirmed by the preservation of his works in leading art reference institutions. His original woodblock images are held in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. These early works, now largely in the public domain, ensure that museum-quality images and high-quality prints of Kiyotada’s theatrical visions remain accessible for scholarship and appreciation.