Daibutsu-kuyo, from the series "Pictures of No Performances (Nogaku Zue)"

Art Historical Context

Tsukioka Kôgyo (1869–1927), a master of Japanese woodblock printing during the Meiji era, *Daibutsu-kuyō* as part of his renowned series *Pictures of Performances (Nogaku Z)* in 1898. This woodblock print captures a scene from the Noh play *Daib-kuyō* by the legendary playwright Zeami, depicting a solemn ritual honoring the Great Buddha. Kôgyo's meticulous depictions preserved the elegance of Noh theater—a centuries-old art form blending dance, music, and masked drama—at a time when Japan was rapidly modernizing. Printed on washi paper measuring about 25.2 × 37.4 cm, the work showcases the vi...

About the Artist

Tsukioka Kôgyo · 1869–1927

Tsukioka Kōgyo (1869–1927), born Hanyū Bennosuke in Tokyo's bustling Nihonbashi district as the second son of an innkeeper family, navigated a path from humble origins to mastery in Japanese printmaking. After his father's early death, he was raised by his mother's Sakamaki family and apprenticed in pottery painting under his uncle, a ceramics exporter in Yokohama. He briefly attended the Tokyo Sc...