Senju, from the series "Pictures of No Performances (Nogaku Zue)"
1898
Medium
Color woodblock print
Dimensions
Approx: 25.2 × 37.4 cm (10 × 15 3/8 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
155348
Art Historical Context
Behold the captivating *Senju*, a color woodblock print from Tsukioka Kôgyo's renowned series *Pictures of Noances (Nogaku Z)*, created in 1898. Kôgyo, a master of the late ukiyo-e tradition, meticulously documented Japan's classical Noh theater through over 250 prints, capturing its haunting grace during the Meiji era's cultural shifts. This work depicts a pivotal scene from the Noh play *Senju*, likely featuring the ethereal demoness or monk figure, evoking the genre's blend of myth, dance, and spiritual depth. Printed on washi paper in vibrant mineral pigments, the piece exemplifies woodbl...
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...