Soriko, from an untitled series of No plays

Art Historical Context

This color woodblock print by Takashima Chiharu captures a moment from the Noh play *Soriko*, part of an untitled series created in 1823. Produced during Japan’s Edo period, the work reflects the enduring popularity of Noh theater, a classical dramatic form that blends music, dance, and poetry to explore themes of history, legend, and the supernatural. As a shikishiban surimono—a square-format print often commissioned for private poetry circles—the piece was intended for an appreciative audience familiar with theatrical subjects. Surimono prints like this one were prized for their refined tec...