Nuihaku (Noh Costume)
18th century , Edo period (1615–1868) (additional patterning added early 19th century)
Medium
Silk, warp-float faced 4:1 satin weave; patterned with impressed gold and silver leaf; embroidered with silk in satin, single satin, and stem stitches; laid work and couching; lined with silk, plain weave
Dimensions
169.6 × 136.1 cm (66 3/4 × 53 5/8 in.); Repeat: 12.3 × 12.7 cm (4 7/8 × 5 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
20620
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The pattern on this robe for the Nō theater refers to the well-known Tales of Ise, which describes the travels of the famous courtier poet Ariwara no Narihira. One episode of the stories concerns Yatsuhashi (Eight-Planked Bridge). Here, the robe's pattern features the planks of the bridge that are floating in space, disconnected from one another with multicolored iries, and the water currents were added in the 19th century. When the robe was first made, the pattern had no reference to Tales of I...
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...