Tsuchi-guruma, from the series "Pictures of No Performances (Nogaku Zue)" 1898

"Tsuchi-guruma" (Earth Wheel), created in 1898 by the Japanese artist Tsukioka Kôgyo (1869-1927), is a woodblock print depicting a scene from the Noh play "Tomoe". The print depicts a character, possibly a young boy, riding a "tsuchi-guruma", a type of cart used to haul dirt, while a second character, possibly an attendant, walks behind him pulling a rope. Kôgyo was known for his woodblock prints that depicted scenes from traditional Japanese theater, and this print is a fine example of his style. The work was part of a series called "Pictures of No Performances (Nogaku Zue)". The print is currently held in the Art Institute of Chicago.