Nō mask of a noble lady", before 1920 ·  Japan · ID: 3049247

Description

wood, paint, handwritten characters (“kanji”): " 泣増 (“nakizō”) - “Nō-mask of a noble lady” and “genji” emblem no. 42: “His Perfumed Highness” (“niōnomiya”); two labels with characters: " 坐 (“za”) - “sitting” or “seated” and 二 (“ni”), “two” or “second”.

The “nō”- theatre evolved in the 14th century from the antique tradition of religious dances and burlesque plays, which used to be performed in temples.

In the course of the time two independant forms developed: the severe “nō” drama and the humorous “kyōgen” burlesque.

The primary concern of the “nō” art is to convey “yugen” to the audience, which means as much as “beauty”, “depth of sentiment”, “gracefulness”, “elegance”. It is essential to convey characters and events through minimal gestures and movements, but not to play in a realistic manner.

Comparing literature

Perzynski, Friedrich, Japanische Masken, Zweiter Band, Berlin, Leipzig 1925, p. 206