Soriko, from an untitled series of No plays

Art Historical Context

This color woodblock print by Takashima Chiharu captures a moment from the Noh play *Soriko*, part of an untitled series created in 1823. Produced during Japan’s Edo period, the work reflects the enduring popularity of Noh theater, a classical dramatic form that blends music, dance, and poetry to explore themes of history, legend, and the supernatural. As a shikishiban surimono—a square-format print often commissioned for private poetry circles—the piece was intended for an appreciative audience familiar with theatrical subjects. Surimono prints like this one were prized for their refined technique and luxurious quality, employing multiple color blocks and sometimes embossing or metallic pigments to achieve delicate effects. Measuring just 22.6 × 19.9 cm, the intimate scale suited the personal, gift-giving nature of these works. Chiharu’s print thus bridges visual art and performance, preserving the stylized gestures and costumes of Noh for viewers outside the theater. Today housed in the Art Institute of Chicago’s Arts of Asia collection, the print offers a window into early nineteenth-century Japanese cultural life, where theater, literature, and printmaking intersected to create objects of both beauty and quiet contemplation.