Kogyo (1869 - 1927 )
Kogyo Tsukioka was a woodblock print artist, painter, and illustrator who brought the theatrical art of noh to life through rich, painterly colors and shimmering costumes. While he is best known for scenes of the noh stage, he also produced some war prints and nature studies. Born in Tokyo in 1869 as Hanyu (Sakamaki) Bennosuke (sometimes read Sadanosuke), Kogyo was the son of an innkeeper in the Nihonbashi district. He began his career as an artisan. At age twelve, he worked as his uncle's apprentice decorating pottery for foreign export, then attended a prefectural institute to study glass, stone, and ceramic work in 1884. Kogyo entered the workshop of renowned ukiyo-e artist Yoshitoshi Tsukioka (1839-1892) in 1885 before studying under painter and printmaker Gekko Ogata (1859-1920), from whom he received the name "Kogyo." His interest in noh theater first bloomed in his late 20s. At this time, the traditional theatrical art was actively redefining itself for the modern era. Shaking off its aristocratic associations, Noh expanded its audience, both to the greater public in Japan and internationally, through the visits of foreign dignitaries. As the audience of noh grew, Kogyo broke new ground in the depiction of noh subjects. Rather than foregrounding the actors’ personas, Kogyo creates a subtle sense of the stage and set to capture the fleeting moments of a live performance. It is thought that Kogyo's series such as A Great Mirror of Noh Pictures (Noga Taikan, c. 1925-30) and illustrations for the popular periodical Manners and Customer in Pictures (Fuzoku gaho, 1898-1916) contributed to the popularization of this traditional art form. By the time of Kogyo’s death in 1927, noh theater had secured a significant standing in popular culture.
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Kogyo
Kuzu: An old man symbolically serves fish to the Emperor
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Orochi: The god Susano-o prepares to kill a powerful dragon inebriated from drinking sake
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Michimori: The ghosts of Taira no Michimori and his wife rejoice that they have attained salvation together
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Momijigari: A noblewoman and her ladies reveal their true demonic forms as Taira no Koremochi prepares to vanquish them with a sword from the God of War
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Kotei: The spirit of Shoki vanquishing the demon
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Manju: Tada no Manju prepares to strike his son, but his faithful retainer restrains him
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Naniwa: The ghost of the scholar Onin and the goddess Konohanasakuya-hime appear by a plum tree to dance
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Hotoke no Hara: Hotoke-Gozen dances in a priest's dream
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Sotoba Komachi: Ono no Komachi reminisces about her days as a beautiful young woman and one of her former suitors
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Kiso: The scribe Kakumei writes a petition for Kiso no Yoshinaka to the god Hachiman
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Obasute: The ghost of an old woman who was left on Obasute-yama long ago appears in her true form
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Tatsuta: The goddess Tatsuta no Myojin appears in her true form, seated on a throne
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Kanehira: Warrior Imai no Shiro Kanehira's ghost appears to a traveling priest
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Shirahige: The god Shirahige appears in his true form along with a goddess and a dragon god to entertain an Imperial envoy
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Danpu: A priest’s prayers summon the god of Kumano, who provides the winds that allow the priest and Umewaka to escape their pursuers
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Minazuki-Barae: A man tells the story how he met the woman that he plans to marry
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Tenko: The ghost of Tenko strikes his celestial drum
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Nomori: As a demon appears, a priest prays and holds up the guardian of Kasuga field's magic mirror
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Yorimasa: The warrior Minamoto no Yorimasa's ghost tells the story of his last battle before disappearing
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Matsuyama Kagami: A girl, her mother's ghost, and the god Kushojin prepare to show the mother all of her sins, but the mirror shows her as a saint
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Yugao: The ghost of Lady Yugao, once the lover of Genji, appears to the traveling priest
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Senju: Senju no mae comforts Taira no Shigehira during his captivity at Kamakura
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