Noh Dance Prelude 1936

"Noh Dance Prelude" (1936) by Uemura Shoen depicts a woman in traditional Japanese garb, a *kimono*, adorned with intricate patterns of clouds and flowers. The woman's delicate features and elegant pose, along with the muted color palette and fine brushwork, are characteristic of Shoen's *bijin-ga*, a style of Japanese painting known for its idealized depictions of beautiful women. The subject, with her graceful movement, suggests a scene from a Noh play, a traditional Japanese dramatic form.