Nuihaku (Noh Costume)
late 17th/ early 18th century
Medium
Silk, plain weave; stamped with gold and silver leaf over adhesive (inkin); emroidered with silk in satin and couching stitches; lined with silk, plain weave
Dimensions
160.6 × 140.3 cm (63 1/4 × 55 1/4 in.)
Classification
needlework (visual works)
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
228571
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Nō is a Japanese form of theater that combines music, dance, and drama. This elegant nuihaku kimono has a pattern and technique traditionally associated with female roles (and occasionally male roles of very high rank) in Nō theater. The pattern consists of alternating panels of finely embroidered carnations ("pinks") and a braided fence created by stenciled impressed gold and silver lines. The garment once belonged to the So family, a warrior clan that prospered by controlling the trade between...
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...