Torii Kiyonaga

Torii Kiyonaga, originally known as Sekiguchi Shinsuke, was born in 1752 in Edo, Japan. He was the son of a bookseller and hailed from Motozaimokuchō Itchōme. Kiyonaga adopted the name of Torii Kiyonaga as he rose to prominence in the world of ukiyo-e, a traditional Japanese woodblock printing art form. Although he was not biologically related to the Torii family, he became the head of the Torii school following the death of his adoptive father and mentor, Torii Kiyomitsu.

After Kiyomitsu's passing in 1785, Kiyonaga faced the significant responsibility of leading the Torii school. His mentor's son had died young, and Kiyotsune, Kiyonaga's senior, was deemed less capable. Recognizing the weight of this role, Kiyonaga took two years to prepare himself, focusing on his bijin-ga, or beautiful women portraits, before officially assuming leadership in 1787.

Once at the helm, Kiyonaga began to organize the production of kabuki signboards, a domain in which the Torii school held a near monopoly. His leadership marked a pivotal moment in the school's history, as he also took on the responsibility of training Torii Kiyomine, Kiyomitsu's grandson, ensuring the continuation of the Torii legacy in the world of ukiyo-e.