Asakurajô (Old Man Asakura) Noh mask
16th century
Medium
Japanese cypress, colors, and horsehair
Classification
wood
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
22591
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Asakurajô masks are used for older male roles such as woodcutters, fishermen, and ferrymen. The gaunt face and pronounced wrinkles point to a life of hard work. Little of the white pigment that once covered the face remains, while red pigment on the lips can still be discerned. The name of the mask may have originated when a similar mask was given to Lord Asakura Takakage (1493–1546), daimyo of a region in what is today western Shizuoka. One account claims that the mask may even have resembled ...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...