Kogyo's Noga taikan - Kogyo was at work on his last great series "Noga taikan" when he died in 1927. This large work, comprising 200 prints, was published in five volumes, with Kogyo completing four volumes before his death and his student Matsuno Sofu finishing the fifth volume. In this beautiful series Kogyo departed from his normally plain white backgrounds and designed a group of prints with softly colored backgrounds and richly colored, dynamic figures. Many images are detailed with touches of metallic pigment, capturing the elegance of the sumptuous Noh costumes. Others feature strong wood grain impression in the background, adding interest and texture. With excellent detail and the highest printing standards, these designs are exceptional in his career.

Rare, Never Bound Page - This print was never bound into album form as was typical for Kogyo's "Noga taikan" series. It features a wide margin at right with the play title and number within the series and the sides have not been trimmed, so the overall size is larger than prints from bound volumes. An interesting, rarely seen format.

Artist - Tsukioka Kogyo (1869 - 1927)

Image Size - 10 5/8" x 14 3/4" + right margin as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Some prints have slight soiling, a few spots, or a few creases at edges. Most have a paper remnant at the right edge from the original tissue. Please see photos for details. Generally in good condition overall.