The Dragon God of Kasuga
One Hundred Plays of the Noh Theater by Tsukioka Kogyo
Tsukioka Kogyo (1869–1927) is known for his images of Japanese Noh theater. The woodblock prints displayed nearby are from the series titled One Hundred Plays of the Noh Theater. It is a luxurious limited-edition series with rich colors, gold and silver paints, and mica powder. Kogyo selected one hundred famous Noh plays and captured important moments on stage in each print. Noh enthusiasts would recognize actors’ highly stylized poses, costumes, and props illustrated in the prints and be able to identify the play.
Kogyo lived through a period of significant political, social, and artistic change in Japan. Noh theater lost patrons and financial support when the Shogunate was disbanded in the late nineteenth century. However, Noh gradually regained its prestige under the new Meiji government's efforts to promote it as a refined traditional art form suitable for showcasing to foreign dignitaries. The decision of Kogyo (and his publisher) to undertake such a large and ambitious print series in the 1920s is unclear. Its creation might have been instigated with the help of a wealthy patron who wanted to help revive and encourage the survival of the Noh theater.
Kogyo studied under well-known print designer and his stepfather Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892) and nihonga (Japanese-style) painter Ogata Gekko (1859–1920).
