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

"Yu," from the series "Pictures of No Performances (Nogaku Zue)," is a woodblock print by Tsukioka Kôgyo, a prominent Japanese artist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The print, created in 1898, depicts a figure from a Noh play against a backdrop of a full moon and a night sky. The subject, a male character in elaborate robes, embodies the theatrical and symbolic nature of Noh drama. Tsukioka Kôgyo's intricate details and use of color in the print highlight the beauty and artistry of the Japanese woodblock print tradition, a beloved form of art in Japan and around the world. This print, now held by The Art Institute of Chicago, is a testament to Kôgyo's skill and the enduring appeal of Japanese art.