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Tsukioka Kogyo

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Tsukioka Kogyo
Meiji Utagawa Printmaker
Japanese, (1869–1927) Sakamaki (Tsukioka) Kogyo
Kogyo's widowed mother married Yoshitoshi when the boy was fifteen. Kogyo acquired both the elements of print design and an interest in Noh from his stepfather (Yoshitoshi studied Noh chanting). Kogyo also studied under Ogata Gekko. Kogyo is best known for his prints of Noh actors, and did a series called Nohgaku Hyakuban (One Hundred Noh Plays). Other subjects were courtesans, and some bird and flower (kacho-e) prints in the 1920s.

The essence of Noh is that it redefines reality-of time, space, life and death. The stage is nearly bare and the movements are dictated down to the placement of an actor's fingers. The principal actor displays his character's emotions with a fixed, stylized mask. The back wall is adorned with a huge pine tree. Along the rear wall sit the musicians playing a flute and three drums and to the right are the two rows of singers comprising the Noh chorus. Props are rare and abbreviated, mere hints of the existence of the objects they represent. The masks are painted in the subtlest of expressions, representing men, women and children, young and old as well as demons and other figures. Elaborate robes and under-robes are the Noh's most visual spectacle.

Noh plays come in five categories concerned with gods, warriors, women, contemporary themes and supernatural beings. They are presented in cycles, each play having its place in the developing rhythm of a performance that might have taken eight hours. Although Noh originated in the countryside, by the early 1600's it became the official music of the ruling Tokugawa regime and unavailable to common people. The Meiji Restoration might have removed the barriers to access but Noh was so closely associated with the overthrown shogunate that it was almost lost. A few determined actors kept it alive until it found public favor again.


Artist Objects

Dairoku Ten 2011.11.29

Domyoji 2011.11.30

Eguchi 2011.11.37

Enoshima 2011.11.14

Fuji Taiko 2011.11.33

Furoku 2011.11.3

Hibari Yama 2011.11.19

Himuro 2011.11.26

Hyakuman 2011.11.43

Ikari Kazuki 2011.11.45

Kanaoka 2011.11.47

Kayoi 2011.11.16

Kiyotsune 2011.11.40

Kocho 2011.11.31

Kurama muko 2011.11.49

Kusuno Tsuyu 2011.11.41

Mekari 2011.11.9

Menbako 2011.11.6

Miidera 2011.11.17

Morihisa 2011.11.36

Niou 2011.11.50

Ohara Goko 2011.11.15

Oyashiro 2011.11.25

Ryoko 2011.11.46

Sakura Gawa 2011.11.18

Sanemori 2011.11.39

Shibata 2011.11.21

Shiga 2011.11.8

Shoki 2011.11.44

Shokun 2011.11.42

Suehiro Kari 2011.11.53

Sumida Gawa 2011.11.24

Tadanobu 2011.11.35

Tamakazura 2011.11.12

Tamanoi 2011.11.7

Tatsuta 2011.11.28

Tenko 2011.11.32

Tobosaku 2011.11.23

Tomonaga 2011.11.34

Tsurigitsune 2011.11.48

Ukai 2011.11.11

Volume 3 2011.11.2

Yokihi 2011.11.10

Yugyo Yanagi 2011.11.38

Yumi Yataro 2011.11.51

Yumi Yawata 2011.11.27

Zegai 2011.11.13


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