Iyogu, from the series "Pictures of No Performances (Nogaku Zue)" 1898

Tsukioka Kôgyo created this woodblock print titled "Iyogu" from the series "Pictures of No Performances" sometime between 1896 and 1902. Tsukioka Kôgyo lived through the Meiji Restoration, a period of rapid modernization and cultural change in Japan. In this print, we see a figure in the traditional garb of Noh theatre, a classical Japanese dance-drama. The series title itself, "Pictures of No Performances," suggests an interest in capturing the essence of Noh. But perhaps it also reflects a grappling with the changing cultural landscape, and the artist's attempt to preserve or re-evaluate traditional art forms. Consider how gender is subtly represented; Noh was historically performed by men, yet here, the artist captures a figure in waiting. What do we make of that? The artist seems to be asking us, "What is seen, what is unseen, and who gets to perform?" It makes us consider the silences and absences in cultural representation.