Shun'ei, from the series "Pictures of No Performances (Nogaku Zue)" 1898

Tsukioka Kôgyo made this woodblock print titled Shun'ei in the early 20th century, part of his series "Pictures of No Performances". Woodblock printing is a labor-intensive process. Each color requires a separate block, carefully carved and registered to create the final image. The lines are clean and precise, and the colors are applied in flat, even tones. The success of a print relies on skilled craftspeople, and their ability to execute the artist's vision. The composition, with its multiple figures and stylized poses, reflects the conventions of ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating world." But Kôgyo's subject matter – the classical No theater – elevates the genre, referencing a traditional art form. Prints like these were produced for a growing middle class, eager to own affordable works of art. By appreciating the material and production involved, we get a full understanding of how art plays a role in society.