Shobe Torii Collection

Arrival of the Korean Embassy in Edo, c. 1709. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
Arrival of the Korean Embassy in Edo, c. 1709. Detail from a larger artwork

Eight Scenes of Kanazawa (Kanazawa hakkei): The Dance of Asahina and Umejumaru... c. 1707. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
Eight Scenes of Kanazawa (Kanazawa hakkei): The Dance of Asahina and Umejumaru (Asaina Umejumaru mai no dan), c. 1707

The Actor Sanjo Kantaro II as Oshichi in the play "Nanakusa Fukki Soga, " performed at the, 1718
The Actor Sanjo Kantaro II as Oshichi in the play "Nanakusa Fukki Soga, " performed at the Ichimura Theater in the first month, 1718

The Actor Ichikawa Monnosuke I as Oiso no Tora in the play "Nigiwai Suehiro Soga, "perf... c. 1721
The Actor Ichikawa Monnosuke I as Oiso no Tora in the play " Nigiwai Suehiro Soga, " performed at the Morita Theater in the first month, 1721 (?), c. 1721

The Actor Sawamura Kodenji I as Tsuyu no Mae in the play "Kanto Koroku, "perfor... printed c. 1915
The Actor Sawamura Kodenji I as Tsuyu no Mae in the play " Kanto Koroku, " performed at the Nakamura Theater in the third month, 1698 (?), woodblock carved 1698, printed c. 1915

The Actors Ichikawa Danjuro II as Kamada Matahachi and Ichikawa Monnosuke I as Hisamatsu i... 1720
The Actors Ichikawa Danjuro II as Kamada Matahachi and Ichikawa Monnosuke I as Hisamatsu in the play "Osome Hisamatsu Shinju Tamoto no Shirashibori, " performed at the Morita Theater, 1720

The Actor Uemura Kichisaburo as the Third Princess in the play "Wakoku Gosuiden, "... 1700
The Actor Uemura Kichisaburo as the Third Princess in the play " Wakoku Gosuiden, " performed at the Morita Theater in the third month, 1700

Reading a Letter in Front of a Screen, from an untitled series of 12 prints, c. 1710. Attributed to Torii Kiyonobu I

The actor Yamanaka Heikuro I as a demon, c. 1706. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
The actor Yamanaka Heikuro I as a demon, c. 1706. Attributed to Torii Kiyonobu I

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

The Actor Otani Hiroji I as Asahina Saburo, c. 1723. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
The Actor Otani Hiroji I as Asahina Saburo, c. 1723. Attributed to Torii Kiyonobu I

The Actors Tamazawa Rinya, Uemura Kohachi, and Ichikawa Monnosuke, c. 1715. Attributed to Torii Kiyonobu I

The Actor Nakamura Denkuro I, c. 1710. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
The Actor Nakamura Denkuro I, c. 1710. Attributed to Torii Kiyonobu I

The Actor Nakamura Denkuro I, c. 1700. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
The Actor Nakamura Denkuro I, c. 1700. Attributed to Torii Kiyonobu I

The Actor Shinomiya Heihachi I, c. 1703. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
The Actor Shinomiya Heihachi I, c. 1703. Attributed to Torii Kiyonobu I

The Actor Bando Matakuro I, c. 1700. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
The Actor Bando Matakuro I, c. 1700. Attributed to Torii Kiyonobu I

The Actors Matsumoto Hyozo as a woman holding an umbrella and Nakamura... c. 1700
The Actors Matsumoto Hyozo as a woman holding an umbrella and Nakamura Shichisaburo I as a young boy, c. 1700. Attributed to Torii Kiyonobu I

The Actor Hanaoka Miyako, c. 1700. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
The Actor Hanaoka Miyako, c. 1700. Attributed to Torii Kiyonobu I

The Actor Shinomiya Heihachi, c. 1700. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
The Actor Shinomiya Heihachi, c. 1700. Attributed to Torii Kiyonobu I

A Professional Buffoon, from an untitled series of 12 prints, c. 1710. Attributed to Torii Kiyonobu I

The Actor Iwai Sagenta I, c. 1701. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
The Actor Iwai Sagenta I, c. 1701. Attributed to Torii Kiyonobu I

The Actors Matsumoto Hyozo as a courtesan and Nakagawa Hanzaburo as a young man, c. 1700. Attributed to Torii Kiyonobu I

The Actor Sawamura Kodenji I, c. 1700. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
The Actor Sawamura Kodenji I, c. 1700. Attributed to Torii Kiyonobu I

The Actors Fujita Hananojo and Ichikawa Danjuro II, c. 1714. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
The Actors Fujita Hananojo and Ichikawa Danjuro II, c. 1714. Attributed to Torii Kiyonobu I

The Actor Yamanaka Heikuro I, c. 1705. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
The Actor Yamanaka Heikuro I, c. 1705. Attributed to Torii Kiyonobu I

The Actors Ichikawa Danjuro I as Yamagami Gennai Saemon and Yamanaka Heikuro I as Suzuka no Oji, 1812

The Actors Ichikawa Danjuro II and Ichikawa Monnosuke I, c. 1720. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
The Actors Ichikawa Danjuro II and Ichikawa Monnosuke I, c. 1720

The Actor Nakamura Takesaburo I as Kewaizaka no Shosho (?), c. 1718

Courtesan Painting a Screen, from a series of 12 erotic prints, c. 1711

A Battle in Mid-Stream, c. 1705 / 10. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
A Battle in Mid-Stream, c. 1705/10

Courtesan and Two Attendants, 1700 / 10. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
Courtesan and Two Attendants, 1700/10

A Courtesan with Her Child Attendant, c. 1715. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
A Courtesan with Her Child Attendant, c. 1715

Matsukaze, from "Album of Courtesans (Keisei ehon)", c. 1700
Matsukaze, from " Album of Courtesans (Keisei ehon)", c. 1700

The Actors Ichikawa Danjuro II as Soga no Goro and Ogawa Zengoro as Kudo Suketsune, ca. 1715

The Actor Bando Hikosaburo 1st (?), ca. 1725. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
The Actor Bando Hikosaburo 1st (?), ca. 1725

Dekishima Hanya Seated on a Cherry Tree, ca. 1700-05. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
Dekishima Hanya Seated on a Cherry Tree, ca. 1700-05

Actor as Woman with Hobby-horse in Unidentified Role. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
Actor as Woman with Hobby-horse in Unidentified Role

An Actor Portrait (Wears a Danjuro Mon). Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
An Actor Portrait (Wears a Danjuro Mon). [Ichikawa Danjuro II in the Role of Soga Goro from the Play " Yanone".]

The Actor Ichimura Uzaemon VIII as a Samurai in Green and Yellow Robes, ca. 1742

Scene from a Drama, ca. 1749. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
Scene from a Drama, ca. 1749

Scene from a Drama, ca. 1745. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
Scene from a Drama, ca. 1745

Print, 1703. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
Print, 1703

The Actor Ikushima Daikichi as an Oiran on Parade in the Streets of the Yoshiwara, ca. 1701-06

Ichikawa Monnosuke as a Sarumawashi or Monkey Showman, ca. 1720-25

Scene from a Drama: Ichimura Uzaemon as a Samurai, ca. 1745. Creator: Torii Kiyonobu I
Scene from a Drama: Ichimura Uzaemon as a Samurai, ca. 1745

The Actor Sanagawa Ichimatsu 1st as a Wakashu (Fashionable Youth) in the Drama " Momo-Chidori Shiraume", ca. 1750

Scene from a Drama, probably "Musume Dojoji", ca. 1744
Scene from a Drama, probably " Musume Dojoji", ca. 1744

Ogino Isaburo as Asamajiro; Sanogawa Ichimatsu as Fujitaro, 1748

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"Shobe Torii: A Glimpse into the World of Kabuki Theatre" Step back in time and immerse yourself in the captivating world of Kabuki theatre with Shobe Torii. This collection showcases the incredible talent and artistry of renowned actor Ichikawa Monnosuke I as Oiso no Tora in the play "Nigiwai Suehiro Soga, " performed around 1721. Traveling through time, we encounter Sawamura Kodenji I as Tsuyu no Mae in "Kanto Koroku, " a performance captured beautifully by Torii Kiyonobu I in a print from approximately 1915. The intricate details and expressive movements bring these characters to life, transporting us to another era. Intriguingly, we witness Ichikawa Danjuro II as Kamada Matahachi and Ichikawa Monnosuke I as Hisamatsu in a mesmerizing scene from 1720's "Kamakura Sandaiki. " These actors' dynamic performances are masterfully depicted by Torii Kiyonobu I, capturing their emotions with every stroke. The enchantment continues with Uemura Kichisaburo embodying the Third Princess in "Wakoku Gosuiden" circa 1700. Through this portrayal, Torii Kiyonobu I skillfully conveys both strength and vulnerability within this character's journey. Moving beyond theatrical roles, we delve into intimate moments such as "Reading a Letter in Front of a Screen. " This untitled series of prints from around 1710 invites us to ponder upon personal narratives hidden behind closed doors. Venturing into supernatural realms, Yamanaka Heikuro I takes on an otherworldly persona as a demon circa 1706. With his striking presence captured by Torii Kiyonobu I, we are left awestruck by the power and mystique emanating from this portrayal.