Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
An Actor of the Ichikawa Family Scattering Beans during the Setsubun Festival to Drive Out Evil Spirits
Attributed to Torii Kiyomasu I Japanese
Not on view
The first generation of innovative Torii school print artists, active from the end of the seventeenth to the early eighteenth century, established dominance in the portrayal of actors of the Kabuki stage. Initially, there was little concern with trying to capture actual facial characteristics, and identities were indicated by actors’ crests incorporated into the design. This dynamic and boldly hand-colored print is meant to represent an Ichikawa family actor—perhaps Danjūrō I (1660–1704). He is shown performing a ritual exorcism at the Setsubun (Spring Equinox) festival, when dried soybeans were scattered while people shouted “Demons begone! Good luck enter!” (Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi).
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