Noh Theatre in the Woodblock Prints of Tsukioka Kōgyo (1869–1927)

Exhibition Website

Jun 16 2018 - Oct 14 2018

Featuring over 50 Japanese color woodblock prints and several masks, this exhibition explores the art of woodblock prints and the history, stories, and costumes of Japanese Noh theater at the turn of the 20th century. 

Artist Tsukioka Kōgyo (1869–1927) came of age in the Meji era (1868–1912), a period of modernization when Japan was opened to world trade after more than two hundred years of relative isolation. Kōgyo specialized in depictions of Noh Theater, a classical art form which until then had primarily been enjoyed by social elites. This changed at the end of the 19th century, however, when Noh Theater expanded in popularity and was embraced by the middle class. 

Kōgyo’s numerous paintings were translated into series of woodblock prints, including Pictures of Noh (1897–1902), One Hundred Noh Dramas (1922–1926), and Encyclopedia of Noh plays, (1925–1930).


Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website
Image: Miidera (Mii-dera Temple), 1899 from Nogaku Zue (Pictures of Noh), woodblock print, 10 x 14 1/2 in. Collection of Richard J. and Mae J. Smethurst.


Whether you go or not, The Beauty of Silence: Japanese Nō and Nature Prints by Tsukioka Kōgyo  is the first monograph in English on Tsukioka Kōgyo, one of the lesser-known exponents of Japanese woodblock prints of the Meiji period (1868-1912). This publication, with almost 400 full color illustrations, exposes Kōgyo's life and work, presents a range of Kōgyo's works on a variety of subjects, including landscapes, as well as samples of his art created in other media, and places them in the context of his times. Kōgyo is particularly well-known for his many depictions of the Nō, Japan's elegant and poetic theatrical form, dating back to medieval times. The publication includes his biography, historical information on the Nō, a detailed analysis of the prints, and useful information on each of the Nō plays pictured. The appendices section includes listings of more than a hundred artist-seals used by Kōgyo, an index of Nō plays and illustrations of all 120 prints belonging to Kōgyo's famous print series Nōgaku hyakuban (One Hundred Nō Dramas).

Select The Beauty of Silence: Japanese Nō and Nature Prints by Tsukioka Kōgyo to learn more, or to place this book in your Amazon shopping cart. Your Amazon purchase through this link supports ArtGeek with a small commission. 

  • Works on Paper
  • Asian
  • Japanese
  • Tsukioka Kōgyo

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