Date of Exhibition: Fall 2020- Present
Curator: Hiroyuki Good (Japanese Studies Librarian)
Location: Archives & Special Collections exhibit gallery, 3rd floor Hillman Library, University of Pittsburgh 3960 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15260 and Digital Interactive Wall, 3rd floor Hillman Library
Description: The Art of Noh: Woodblock Prints by Tsukioka Kōgyo showcases reproductions of a spectacular series of Japanese color woodblock prints by the artist Tsukioka Kōgyo (1869-1927). They are inspired by Noh, a theater form that originated in Japan in the fourteenth century, and represent a wide variety of performers as well as demons and ghosts.
A celestial maiden wearing her heavenly robe of feathers dances for a fisherman. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: Red characters with red border in oval shape: 耕/漁 [Kōgyo]. Category: Woman (Third).
A heavenly angel dances for a fisherman at Matsubara after he returns her heavenly robe to her. Accompanying musicians, a flutist and three drummers appear in the background of the print. Mizuta Number: 12. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: White letter seal in a square shape: 年久/之印 [Toshihisa no in]. Category: Woman (Third).
The courtesan Yuya stands in an ox-drawn cart for cherry blossom viewing. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: Red characters with red border in round shape: 静/如 [Sei'nyo] (Quiet). Category: Woman (Third).
The ghost of Shizuka-gozen, and a woman whose spirit the ghost has possessed, perform a dance together. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: One white character on red background and one red character with red border, both in square shape: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Category: Woman (Third).
A fish in human form appears on stage (underwater in the story) and gives a local villager a jewel that assures long life and protection from all ills. Mizuta Number: 58. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: White and red letter seals in a pair: 耕・漁 [Kō・gyo]. Category: Demon (Fifth).
Left image of diptych. White lion dances among the peonies. Category: Demon (Fifth).
Right image of diptych. Red lion dances among the peonies. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: Black characters with black border in vertical rectangular shape: 師子坐 [Shishiza] (tr.:"Lion's seat." Refers to the vehicle of Monju, Buddhist deity of wisdom). Category: Demon (Fifth).
The demonic earth-spider in its lair, protected by threads of a web. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: Red characters with red border in square shape: 耕/漁 [Kōgyo]. Category: Demon (Fifth).
Left image of diptych. A lady of rank dances under maple trees (momiji) to entertain Koremochi. Signature:耕漁 [Kōgyo] Seal: Red characters with a red border in rectangular shape: 青苔地 [Seitaichi] (Groud of green moss). Category: Demon (Fifth).
Right image of diptych. After drinking wine, Koremochi falls asleep. Category: Demon (Fifth).
A lady of rank entertains Taira no Koremochi who falls asleep in a drunken stupor. He awakens with divine help and vanquishes her, now a demon, with his sword. Mizuta Number: 17. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: White letter seal in an oval shape: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Category: Demon (Fifth).
Okina, in a performance with deep religious feeling, sings and dances to win the help of the gods in obtaining peace and prosperity in the land and long life for its people.” Mizuta Number: 3. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: White letter seal in a square shape: 年久/之印 [Toshihisa no in]. Category: Okina.
Okina Shikisan sōzu (left) 翁 弍三 双圖
Left image of triptych. Performers arrive on stage. On the left, Sanbansō (the third dancer), musicians, and chorus sit on the stage. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo ]. Seal: Red characters with red border in square shape: 天下泰平 [Tenka taihei] (Peace in the World). Category: Okina.
Okina Shikisan sōzu (centre) 翁 弍三 双圖
Center image of triptych. Okina dances for peace and prosperity in the realm. Category: Okina.
Okina Shikisan sōzu (right) 翁 弍三 双圖
Right image of triptych. Stagehands (kōken) surround a box holding masks (menbako). The character Senzai (the first dancer in the play), kneels nearby. Category: Okina.
Left image of a diptych. The warrior Benkei strikes his master Yoshitsune (disguised as a servant) in an attempt to allay suspicion by officials at Ataka Barrier. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo] Seal: One white character on red background and one red character with red border, both in square shape: 耕・漁 [Kōgyo]. Category: Miscellaneous (Fourth).
Right image of diptych. Officials of the Ataka Barrier suspect that the young servant is the fugitive Yoshitsune in disguise. Category: Miscellaneous (Fourth).
The Soga brothers prepare to kill their father’s enemy during a hunting expedition. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: Red characters with red border in rectangular shape: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Category: Miscellaneous (Fourth).
Two Soga brothers, Jūrō and Gorō, dance for their mother before going off to fight their father’s enemy. Mizuta Number: 36. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: Red letter seal in a square shape: 耕/漁 [Kōgyo]. Category: Miscellaneous (Fourth).
Lady Rokujō, who was the former mistress of Prince Genji, appears as an evil spirit expressing jealousy and hatred toward Lady Aoi (Aoi no ue). Lady Aoi is represented on the stage by a folded robe. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: White characters on red background in rectangular shape: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Category: Miscellaneous (Fourth).
A priest subdues the angry spirit of Lady Rokujō, who has taken possession of Lady Aoi, who is represented in the play by a kimono on the stage. Lady Rokujō hates Lady Aoi because the latter succeeded the former in the affections of Genji. Mizuta Number: 35. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: Red letter seal in a double ring shape: 湖・畔 [Ko・han]. Category: Miscellaneous (Fourth).
A female dancer, thinking Anchin, a celibate priest, was her betrothed, comes searching for him at Dōjōji Temple in Kii Province. She performs a very slow-moving dance near the bell (the choreography is in the top inset), pulls the bell over her head, and emerges as a serpent wearing a mask like the one in the second inset. Mizuta Number: 10. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: White letter seal in a square shape: 年久/之印 [Toshihisa no in]. Category: Woman (Third).
The woman, now transformed into a demon. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: One white character on red background, and one red character with red border, both in square shape: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Category: Miscellaneous (Fourth).
