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

Tsukioka Kôgyo created this woodblock print, Tama Kuzu, as part of his series "Pictures of No Performances (Nogaku Zue)." During the Meiji period, Japan underwent rapid modernization and engagement with Western culture which led to a revival of interest in traditional arts like Noh theatre, where performers wear masks to convey different characters and emotions. Here we see an actor in costume which blends social status and identity. Her elaborate kimono contrasts with her white face. A white face in Noh can represent youth, beauty, and high social status, but also the supernatural. Kôgyo's work captures the elegance and emotional depth of Noh, and suggests something uncanny in its emphasis on highly stylized performance. We are not privy to the performance itself, but rather to the symbolic and emotional presence of the performer. Consider how the image evokes a sense of cultural preservation, and yet, simultaneously, it also captures the personal experience of transformation and disguise.