Torii Kiyohiro

Torii Kiyohiro, most writers have agreed, was one of the gentlest designers of the period of two-color prints. An entry in the Ukiyo-e Ruikö states that he died in a measles epidemic that raged through Edo in 1776, but this claim is not confirmed elsewhere. Beyond a tradition that his given name was Shichinosuke and that he lived in Sakaichö, nothing else about his life is known. Different writers suppose that Kiyohiro was a pupil of Kiyomitsu or Kiyomasu, possibly even Kiyomasu’s son, but there seems to be little ground for these speculations.

HIs prints all seem to have been benizuri-e, with the exception of one unsigned full-color calendar print for 1765. All were published in the 1750s and 1760s. Many of his designs were copied or adopted by Suzuki Harunobu, whose lyricism owes as much to Kiyohio, perhaps, as the earlier artist owed to Toyonobu.

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Torii Kiyohiro's date of birth and death are unknown. A doubtful tradition states that in the Year of the Monkey of the Anei era (1776) while still young, he died of pox. According to the "Ukiyo-e Ruikö," he lived in Sakai-machi. Yoshida lists his common name as Shichinosuke and suggests that he may have been a pupil of Torii Kiyomatsu (I).

His prints, all in two-color "benizuri-e" and datable to the 1750s and early 1760s, reveal a dependence on Kiyomatsu and his contemporary, Ishikawa Toyonobu. His special genius is in the freshness of his compositions and the youthful character of his designing. He also illustrated novelettes and was a master of "abuna-e" (suggestive pictures). The Michener Collection's documentation on Kiyohiro consists of fourteen "benizuri-e" prints to the 1750s and early 1760s.

SUMMARY: Kiyohiro is an artist without biography, although his name does occur in certain ukiyo-e compilations suggesting that a real individual was responsible for the signature. Some say that he was a pupil of Kiyomasu II, and this is possible. There are a few hand-colored prints known by our artist, but most of his graceful prints are in three-color woodblock. His work is quite rare, and seems more closely patterned after the art of Torii Kiyomatsu and Ishikawa Toyonobu than the second generation Torii.

BIOGRAPHY: Kiyohiro (worked 1750s and 1760s) is an artist without a biography. Some say he was a pupil of Kiyomasu II, and this is possible. There are a few "urushi-e" known from his hand, but most of his graceful prints are in "benizuri-e." His work is quite rare.

Our artist was a member of the Torii school, but his genealogical position is uncertain. The "Ukiyo-e Ruikö" reports that he lived in Sakai-machi but is otherwise silent. The tradition that he died of pox is doubtful. All that we really have as evidence is the art itself which consists of novelettes and "benizuri-e" prints of actors, most datable to the 1750s.

Research by: Howard A. Link.