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C1925
Mochizuki
Artist:
Tsukioka Kogyo (1869 - 1927)
Woodblock from the series Nogaku hyakuban (One Hundred No Dramas) In the Noh play Mochizuki, Lord Tomoharu was assassinated by his cousin Mochizuki, who took over his land and property. In fear for their lives, Tomoharu’s retainers scattered and his … Read Full Description
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Details
Full Title:
Mochizuki
Date:
C1925
Artist:
Tsukioka Kogyo (1869 - 1927)
Condition:
In good condition.
Technique:
Woodblock.
Image Size:
255mm
x 380mm
AUTHENTICITY
Guaranteed Vintage Item
dated:
1925
Description:
Woodblock from the series Nogaku hyakuban (One Hundred No Dramas)
In the Noh play Mochizuki, Lord Tomoharu was assassinated by his cousin Mochizuki, who took over his land and property. In fear for their lives, Tomoharu’s retainers scattered and his wife and son fled their home. When the play begins thirteen years have passed, and now one of the retainers, Tomofusa, is the innkeeper of the Helmet Lodge in the post town of Moriyama. One day two guests, a mother and son, appear without any servants. Tomofusa recognises them as the wife of his master and their son, Hanawaka. At the same time, Mochizuki, the killer, is on his way back from the capital, stops at the Helmet Lodge. Tomofusa recognises him and, together with the wife and son, plots to avenge their master. Mother and son pretend to be entertainers and, together with Tomofusa, they dance for Mochizuki as they pour him copious amounts of wine. Mochizuki is lulled by the wine and the wonderful dances so that he doesn’t realize what is happening when Hanawaka and Tomofusa approach him. They declare their identities and strike him down, finally avenging Tomoharu’s murder and restoring his properties to his family.
Biography:
Tsukioka Kogyo (1869-1927)
Although Kogyo was born the year after the beginning of the Meiji restoration, which brought Japan into the modern Western world, he was to become famous for his depiction of scenes from the traditional Japanese theatre Noh. A talented and prolific artist he was to created over 550 prints of Noh plays.
At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to the great woodblock artist Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892), who had married his mother. Yoshitoshi, had a “lifelong fascination with Noh” and influenced his apprentice to appreciate all aspects of Noh perfomances. After Yoshitoshi’s death, he went on to study with the painter and woodblock artist Ogata Gekko (1859-1920), who his more modern style Kogyo was to adapt for his woodblocks.
