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

Tsukioka Kôgyo created "Genjo" from the series "Pictures of No Performances (Nogaku Zue)" using woodblock print techniques. Notice how the composition is structured around a play of interior and exterior spaces. The artist uses the architectural framework—the pillars and beams—to create a grid-like structure that segments the visual field. This framework divides our view between the staged performance and the natural world, represented by the pine trees. The performer, adorned in an elaborate costume, is partially obscured, creating a sense of depth and mystery. The use of muted colors and soft lines enhances the dreamlike quality of the scene. This print captures a fleeting moment, inviting us to contemplate the interplay between artifice and nature. The rigid structure of the building versus the organic forms of the trees sets up a tension that destabilizes a fixed interpretation. The artist encourages us to reflect on the fluid boundary between performance and reality.