, better known to his contemporaries as ,
was a Japanese painter and printmaker who was widely regarded as a prolific
woodblock artist during the
Meiji epoch.
Names
Chikanobu signed his artwork . This was his . The artist's was ; and it was published in his obituary.
[See "Yōshū Chikanobu bituary" '' Miyako Shimbun,'' No. 8847 (October 2, 1912). p. 195:]
"Yōshū Chikanobu, who represented in ''nishiki-e
is a type of Japanese multi-coloured woodblock printing; the technique is used primarily in ukiyo-e. It was invented in the 1760s, and perfected and popularized by the printmaker Suzuki Harunobu, who produced many ''nishiki-e'' prints between ...
'' the Great Interior of the Chiyoda Castle and was famous as a master of ''bijin-ga
is a generic term for pictures of beautiful women () in Japanese art, especially in woodblock printing of the ukiyo-e genre.
Definition
defines as a picture that simply "emphasizes the beauty of women", and the ''Shincho Encyclopedia of W ...
,'' had retired to Shimo-Ōsaki at the foot of Goten-yama five years ago and led an elegant life away from the world, but suffered from stomach cancer starting this past June, and finally died on the night of September 28th at the age of seventy-five.
His real name being Hashimoto Naoyoshi, he was a retainer of the Sakakibara clan
The was a Japanese samurai clan who rose to prominence during the Edo period under the Tokugawa shogunate.Alpert, Georges. (1888). Before the Meiji Restoration, the clan served as ''daimyō'' of Takada Domain in Echigo Province. The Sakakibara ...
of Takada domain
, was a feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan. It was located in Echigo Province, in the Hokuriku region of Honshū. The domain was centered at Takada Castle, located in what is now part of the city of Jōetsu in Nii ...
in Echigo province
was an old provinces of Japan, old province in north-central Japan, on the shores of the Sea of Japan. It bordered on Uzen Province, Uzen, Iwashiro Province, Iwashiro, Kōzuke Province, Kōzuke, Shinano Province, Shinano, and Etchū Province, ...
. After the collapse of the Tokugawa Shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868.
The Tokugawa shogunate was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu after victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, ending the civil wars ...
, he joined the Shōgitai
The Shōgitai (, "Manifest Righteousness Regiment") was an elite samurai shock infantry formation of the Tokugawa shogunate military formed in 1868 by the hatamoto and Hitotsubashi Gosankyō retainer in Zōshigaya, Edo (now Tokyo). The Shōgita ...
and fought in the Battle of Ueno
The was a battle of the Boshin War, which occurred on July 4, 1868 (''Meiji 1, 15th day of the 5th month''), between the troops of the Shōgitai under Shibusawa Seiichirō and Amano Hachirō, and Imperial "Kangun" troops.
Prelude
Though the Sh� ...
. After the defeat at Ueno, he fled to Hakodate, Hokkaidō
is a Cities of Japan, city and seaports of Japan, port located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture. As of January 31, 2024, the city had an estimated population of 239,813 with 138,807 househol ...
, fought in the Battle of Hakodate
The was fought in Japan from December 4, 1868 to June 27, 1869, between the remnants of the Tokugawa shogunate army, consolidated into the armed forces of the rebel Ezo Republic, and the armies of the newly formed Imperial government (composed ...
at the Goryōkaku
is a star fort in the Japanese city of Hakodate on the island of Hokkaido. The fortress was completed in 1866. It was the main headquarters of the short-lived Republic of Ezo.
History
''Goryōkaku'' was designed in 1855 by Takeda Ayasaburō, ...
star fort
A bastion fort or ''trace italienne'' (a phrase derived from non-standard French, meaning 'Italian outline') is a fortification in a style developed during the early modern period in response to the ascendancy of gunpowder weapons such as c ...
under the leadership of Enomoto Takeaki
Viscount was a Japanese samurai and admiral of the Tokugawa navy of Bakumatsu period Japan, who remained faithful to the Tokugawa shogunate and fought against the new Meiji government until the end of the Boshin War. He later served in the ...
and Ōtori Keisuke
Baron was a Japanese military leader and diplomat.Perez, Louis G. (2013)"Ōtori Keisuke"in ''Japan at War: An Encyclopedia,'' p. 304.
Biography
Early life and education
Ōtori Keisuke was born in Akamatsu Village, in the Akō domain of Harim ...
achieving fame for his bravery. But following the Shōgitai's surrender, he was handed over to the authorities in the Takada domain. In the eighth year of Meiji, with the intention of making a living in the way that he was fond of, went to the capital and lived in Yushima-Tenjin town. He became an artist for the '' Kaishin Shimbun,'' and on the side, produced many nishiki-e pieces. Regarding his artistic background: when he was younger he studied the Kanō school
The is one of the most famous schools of Japanese painting. The Kanō school of painting was the dominant style of painting from the late 15th century until the Meiji era, Meiji period which began in 1868, by which time the school had divided i ...
of painting, but later switched to ''ukiyo-e
is a genre of Japanese art that flourished from the 17th through 19th centuries. Its artists produced woodblock printing, woodblock prints and Nikuhitsu-ga, paintings of such subjects as female beauties; kabuki actors and sumo wrestlers; scenes ...
'' and studied with a disciple of Keisai Eisen
Keisai Eisen (渓斎 英泉, 1790–1848) was a Japanese ''ukiyo-e'' artist who specialised in '' bijin-ga'' (pictures of beautiful women). His best works, including his ''ōkubi-e'' ("large head pictures"), are considered to be masterpieces of ...
; and next joining the school of Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (, ; 1 January 1798 – 14 April 1861) was one of the last great masters of the Japanese ukiyo-e style of woodblock prints and painting.Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric ''et al'' (2005). "Kuniyoshi" in He was a member of the Utaga ...
, called himself Yoshitsuru. After Kuniyoshi's death, he studied with Kunisada. Later he studied nigao-e with Toyohara Kunichika, and called himself Isshunsai Chikanobu. He also referred to himself as Yōshū.
Among his disciples were and as a painter of images on fans (''uchiwa-e''), and several others. Gyokuei produced Kajita Hanko
Kajita Hanko was a Japanese painter.
Biography
Kajita's birth name was Jojirō Kajita. He was born the son of a metal engraver in Shitaya, Tokyo on July 23, 1870. He studied under and Ohara Koson. He participated in forming several arts organiza ...
. Since only Nobukazu now is in good health, there is no one to succeed to Chikanobu's bijin-ga, and thus Edo-e, after the death of Kunichika, has perished with Chikanobu. It is most regrettable." — trans. by Kyoko Iriye Selden
was a Japanese scholar of Japanese language and literature and a translator.
Biography
Kyoko Iriye was born in Tokyo. Her father was a journalist reporting from Paris and Shanghai, and her mother was an English teacher. She attended Seikei Hig ...
(October 2, 1936, Tokyo-January 20, 2013, Ithaca), Senior Lecturer, Department of Asian Studies, Cornell University, ret'd.
Many of his earliest works were signed ; a small number of his early creations were simply signed . At least one triptych from 12 Meiji (1879) exists signed .
The portrait of the
Emperor Meiji
, posthumously honored as , was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the List of emperors of Japan, traditional order of succession, reigning from 1867 until his death in 1912. His reign is associated with the Meiji Restoration of 1868, which ...
held by the British Museum is inscribed .
No works have surfaced that are signed either "Toyohara Chikanobu" or "Hashimoto Chikanobu".
Military career
Chikanobu was a retainer of the
Sakakibara clan
The was a Japanese samurai clan who rose to prominence during the Edo period under the Tokugawa shogunate.Alpert, Georges. (1888). Before the Meiji Restoration, the clan served as ''daimyō'' of Takada Domain in Echigo Province. The Sakakibara ...
of
Takada Domain
, was a feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan. It was located in Echigo Province, in the Hokuriku region of Honshū. The domain was centered at Takada Castle, located in what is now part of the city of Jōetsu in Nii ...
in
Echigo Province
was an old provinces of Japan, old province in north-central Japan, on the shores of the Sea of Japan. It bordered on Uzen Province, Uzen, Iwashiro Province, Iwashiro, Kōzuke Province, Kōzuke, Shinano Province, Shinano, and Etchū Province, ...
. After the collapse of the
Tokugawa Shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868.
The Tokugawa shogunate was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu after victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, ending the civil wars ...
, he joined the ''
Shōgitai
The Shōgitai (, "Manifest Righteousness Regiment") was an elite samurai shock infantry formation of the Tokugawa shogunate military formed in 1868 by the hatamoto and Hitotsubashi Gosankyō retainer in Zōshigaya, Edo (now Tokyo). The Shōgita ...
'' and fought in the
Battle of Ueno
The was a battle of the Boshin War, which occurred on July 4, 1868 (''Meiji 1, 15th day of the 5th month''), between the troops of the Shōgitai under Shibusawa Seiichirō and Amano Hachirō, and Imperial "Kangun" troops.
Prelude
Though the Sh� ...
.
He joined Tokugawa loyalists in
Hakodate, Hokkaidō
is a Cities of Japan, city and seaports of Japan, port located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture. As of January 31, 2024, the city had an estimated population of 239,813 with 138,807 househol ...
, where he fought in the
Battle of Hakodate
The was fought in Japan from December 4, 1868 to June 27, 1869, between the remnants of the Tokugawa shogunate army, consolidated into the armed forces of the rebel Ezo Republic, and the armies of the newly formed Imperial government (composed ...
at the
Goryōkaku
is a star fort in the Japanese city of Hakodate on the island of Hokkaido. The fortress was completed in 1866. It was the main headquarters of the short-lived Republic of Ezo.
History
''Goryōkaku'' was designed in 1855 by Takeda Ayasaburō, ...
star fort
A bastion fort or ''trace italienne'' (a phrase derived from non-standard French, meaning 'Italian outline') is a fortification in a style developed during the early modern period in response to the ascendancy of gunpowder weapons such as c ...
. He served under the leadership of
Enomoto Takeaki
Viscount was a Japanese samurai and admiral of the Tokugawa navy of Bakumatsu period Japan, who remained faithful to the Tokugawa shogunate and fought against the new Meiji government until the end of the Boshin War. He later served in the ...
and
Ōtori Keisuke
Baron was a Japanese military leader and diplomat.Perez, Louis G. (2013)"Ōtori Keisuke"in ''Japan at War: An Encyclopedia,'' p. 304.
Biography
Early life and education
Ōtori Keisuke was born in Akamatsu Village, in the Akō domain of Harim ...
; and he achieved fame for his bravery.
Following the Shōgitai's surrender, he was remanded along with others to the authorities in the Takada domain.
Artistic career
In 1875 (''
Meiji
Meiji, the romanization of the Japanese characters 明治, may refer to:
Japanese history
* Emperor Meiji, Emperor of Japan between 1867 and 1912
** Meiji era, the name given to that period in Japanese history
*** Meiji Restoration, the revolution ...
8''), he decided to try to make a living as an artist. He travelled to Tokyo. He found work as an artist for the ''
Kaishin Shimbun.'' In addition, he produced
nishiki-e
is a type of Japanese multi-coloured woodblock printing; the technique is used primarily in ukiyo-e. It was invented in the 1760s, and perfected and popularized by the printmaker Suzuki Harunobu, who produced many ''nishiki-e'' prints between ...
artworks.
In his younger days, he had studied the
Kanō school
The is one of the most famous schools of Japanese painting. The Kanō school of painting was the dominant style of painting from the late 15th century until the Meiji era, Meiji period which began in 1868, by which time the school had divided i ...
of painting; but his interest was drawn to ''
ukiyo-e
is a genre of Japanese art that flourished from the 17th through 19th centuries. Its artists produced woodblock printing, woodblock prints and Nikuhitsu-ga, paintings of such subjects as female beauties; kabuki actors and sumo wrestlers; scenes ...
.'' He studied with a disciple of
Keisai Eisen
Keisai Eisen (渓斎 英泉, 1790–1848) was a Japanese ''ukiyo-e'' artist who specialised in '' bijin-ga'' (pictures of beautiful women). His best works, including his ''ōkubi-e'' ("large head pictures"), are considered to be masterpieces of ...
and then he joined the school of
Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi; during this period, he called himself Yoshitsuru. After Kuniyoshi's death, he studied with Kunisada. He also referred to himself as Yōshū.
Like many ''
ukiyo-e
is a genre of Japanese art that flourished from the 17th through 19th centuries. Its artists produced woodblock printing, woodblock prints and Nikuhitsu-ga, paintings of such subjects as female beauties; kabuki actors and sumo wrestlers; scenes ...
'' artists, Chikanobu turned his attention towards a great variety of subjects. His work ranged from
Japanese mythology
Japanese mythology is a collection of traditional stories, folktales, and beliefs that emerged in the islands of the Japanese archipelago. Shinto traditions are the cornerstones of Japanese mythology. The history of thousands of years of contac ...
to depictions of the battlefields of his lifetime to women's fashions. As well as a number of the other artists of this period, he too portrayed ''
kabuki
is a classical form of Theatre of Japan, Japanese theatre, mixing dramatic performance with Japanese traditional dance, traditional dance. Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily stylised performances, its glamorous, highly decorated costumes ...
'' actors in character, and is well known for his impressions of the ''
mie'' (''
mise en scène
Mise or Miše may refer to:
* Mise (mythology), a deity addressed in the ''Orphic Hymns''
* Ante Miše (born 1967), Croatian footballer
* Jerolim Miše (1890–1970), Croatian painter, teacher, and art critic
* MISE, an abbreviation for Mean integ ...
'') of kabuki productions. Chikanobu was known as a master of ''
bijinga
is a generic term for pictures of beautiful women () in Japanese art, especially in woodblock printing of the ukiyo-e genre.
Definition
defines as a picture that simply "emphasizes the beauty of women", and the ''Shincho Encyclopedia of W ...
''
(images of beautiful women), and for illustrating changes in women's fashion, including both traditional and Western clothing. His work illustrated the changes in coiffures and make-up across time. For example, in Chikanobu's images in ''Mirror of Ages'' (1897), the hair styles of the ''
Tenmei
is a Japanese era name (年号, ''nengō'', literally "years name") for the years between the An'ei Era and before the Kansei Era, from April 1781 through January 1789. The reigning emperor was .
Change of era
* 1781 : The new era name of Ten ...
'' era, 1781-1789 are distinguished from those of the ''
Keiō
was a after '' Genji'' and before '' Meiji''. The period spanned the years from May 1865 to October 1868. The reigning emperors were and .
Change of era
* May 1, 1865 (''Genji 2/Keiō 1, 7th day of the 4th month'') : The new era name of ''K ...
'' era, 1865-1867. His works capture the transition from the age of the samurai to Meiji modernity, the artistic chaos of the Meiji period exemplifying the concept of "furumekashii/imamekashii".
Chikanobu is a recognizable
Meiji period
The was an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868, to July 30, 1912. The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonizatio ...
artist, but his subjects were sometimes drawn from earlier historical eras. For example, one print illustrates an incident during the
1855 Ansei Edo earthquake. The early
Meiji period
The was an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868, to July 30, 1912. The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonizatio ...
was marked by clashes between disputing samurai forces with differing views about ending Japan's self-imposed isolation and about the changing relationship between the Imperial court and the Tokugawa shogunate. He created a range of impressions and scenes of the
Satsuma Rebellion
The Satsuma Rebellion, also known as the , was a revolt of disaffected samurai against the new imperial government of the Empire of Japan, nine years into the Meiji era. Its name comes from the Satsuma Domain, which had been influential in ...
and
Saigō Takamori
Saigō Takamori (; 23 January 1828 – 24 September 1877) was a Japanese samurai and politician who was one of the most influential figures in Japanese history. He played a key role in the Meiji Restoration, which overthrew the Tokugawa shogunate ...
. Some of these prints illustrated the period of domestic unrest and other subjects of topical interest, including prints like the 1882 image of the
Imo Incident
The Imo Incident, also sometimes known as the Imo Mutiny, Soldier's riot or Jingo-gunran in Japanese, was a violent uprising and riot in Seoul beginning in 1882, by soldiers of the Joseon Army who were later joined by disaffected members of the ...
, also known as the at right.
The greatest number of Chikanobu's appeared in triptych format. These works documented the
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War (25 July 189417 April 1895), or the First China–Japan War, was a conflict between the Qing dynasty of China and the Empire of Japan primarily over influence in Joseon, Korea. In Chinese it is commonly known as th ...
of 1894-1895. For example, the "Victory at Asan" was published with a contemporaneous account of the July 29, 1894 battle.
Among those influenced by Chikanobu were and .
Genres
Battle scenes
Examples of include:
*
*
Examples of scenes from this war include:
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu kagoshima1.jpg, A scene from the battle at Kagoshima
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Kagoshima Yūfu Zoroi.jpg, An Assemblage of the Heroines of Kagoshima
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Hyūga no kuni nobeoka.jpg, The battle at Nobeoka
*
Examples of scenes from this war include:
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Chōsen Jihen.jpg, A sea-land battle from the Korean Uprising
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Korean Peace Negotiations.jpg, The Japanese Mission to the Koreans
Image:A News Report of Chnges in Korea.jpg, A battle scene from the Korean Incident
*
Examples of scenes from this war include:
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Sino-Japanese War.jpg, A battle scene from the First Sino-Japanese War
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Occupation of Pyongyang by our Troops.jpg, A battle scene from the First Sino-Japanese War
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu First Sino-Japanese War3.jpg, A battle scene from the First Sino-Japanese War
*
Examples of scenes from this war include:
Image:Russo-Japanese War 1904 Yalu River.jpg, A battle scene from the Russo-Japanese War
Warrior prints
Examples of include:
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Miura Daisuke Yoshiaki.jpg, Gempei Seisuiki series,Miura Daisuke Yoshiaki (1093-1181)
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Kusunoki Masatsura.jpg, Azuma nishiki chūya kurabe series, Kusunoki Masatsura
was the eldest son of Kusunoki Masashige (1294 – 1336), and succeeded him as the head of the Kusunoki lineage. Along with his father and his younger brothers Masanori and Masatoki, Masatsura was a supporter of the Southern Imperial Court duri ...
attacking an oni
An ( ) is a kind of ''yōkai'', demon, orc, ogre, or troll in Japanese folklore. They are believed to live in caves or deep in the mountains or in hell. Oni are known for their superhuman strength and have been associated with powers like th ...
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Takiyasha-hime.jpg, Setsu Gekka (1st series),Takiyasha-hime, daughter of Taira no Masakado
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Mount Komaki.jpg, Sakakibara Yasumasa and Toyotomi Hideyoshi on Mt. Komaki
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Tomoe Gozen.jpg, Tomoe Gozen
Tomoe Gozen (, ) was an onna-musha, a female samurai, mentioned in '' The Tale of the Heike.'' There is doubt as to whether she existed as she doesn't appear in any primary accounts of the Genpei war. She only appears in the epic "The tale of th ...
with Uchida Ieyoshi and Hatakeyama no Shigetada
Beauty pictures
Examples of include:
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Azuma keshō.jpg, Azuma series, keshō
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Shin Bijin 12.jpg, Shin Bijin series, No. 12
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Setsu Gekka II 10.jpg, Setsu Gekka (second series), suimen no tsuki
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Gentō Shashin Kurabe 7.jpg, Gentō Shashin Kurabe series, Arashiyama
Image:Jid1.jpg, Jidai Kagami series, Kenmu nengō (era)
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu 6th month.jpg, azuma fūzoku nenjū gyōji series, 6th month
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Chikako.jpg, Kyōdō risshiki album No. 42 Chikako
Historical pictures
Examples of include:
Recent (Meiji era) history
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Scene of the Diet.jpg, A scene of the Japanese Diet
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu House of Peers.jpg, A Scene in the House of Peers
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu A meeting of the privy counsil.jpg, A scene of a meeting of the Privy Council
Ancient history
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Shiragi Saburo and Tokiaki.jpg, Nihon Rekishi Kyokun series – Lessons from Japan's History - Shiragi Saburō and Tokiaki
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Tajima no kami Norimasa.jpg, Nihon Rekishi Kyokun series – Lessons from Japan's History - Tajima no kami Norimasa
Image:Shogun-Hearing-in-Fukiage-by-Toyohara-Chikanobu-1889.png, Shogun hearing a lawsuit at Fukiage (of Edo Castle)
Famous places
Examples of include:
Yōshū Chikanobu Nikko Meisho.jpg, Nikko Mesho series, Hannya and Hoto Waterfalls
Yōshū Chikanobu Bijin on a boat ride.jpg, Kameido Tenjin Shrine
Portraits
Examples of include:
Image:EmperorMeiji.JPG, Emperor Meiji
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Saigō Takamori .jpg, Saigō Takamori
Saigō Takamori (; 23 January 1828 – 24 September 1877) was a Japanese samurai and politician who was one of the most influential figures in Japanese history. He played a key role in the Meiji Restoration, which overthrew the Tokugawa shogunate ...
Enlightenment pictures
Examples of include:
Theatre scenes
Examples of include:
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Kabuki 1.jpg, Kabuki scene
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Kabuki 2.jpg, Kabuki scene
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu The Barrier Gate.jpg, Kuronushi attempting to cut down a cherry tree
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Kabuki 3.jpg, Kabuki scene
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Kabuki 4.jpg, Kabuki scene depicting a samurai of the Sanada carrying a cannon
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Kabuki 7.jpg, Kabuki scene
Others:
File:世上各国写画帝王鏡-Mirror of Portraits of All Sovereigns in the World (Sejō kakkoku shaga teiō kagami) MET DP147679.jpg, painting "Mirror of the statue of all the kings of the world" that depicts kings of the world in that time.
Memorial prints
Examples of include:
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Iwai Hanshiro VIII.jpg, Iwai Hanshiro VIII, 1829-1882
Image:146c11f.jpg, Iwai Hanshiro VIII
Women's pastimes
Examples of include:
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Azuma Hanami.jpg, Azuma kai series:Watching cherry blossoms fall (hanami)
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Songs of Enlightenment and Education.jpg, Kaika kyōiku mari uta series:teaching songs with koto and gekkin
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Shin Bijin No. 20.jpg, Shin bijin series:Practicing kanji
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Filial Piety.jpg, Nijūshi kō mitate e awase series:Weaving Tōei
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Setsu Gekka Series II Bonkei.jpg, Setsu gekka series II:creating bonseki
''Bonseki'' (, "tray rocks") is the ancient Japanese art of creating miniature landscapes on black trays using white sand, pebbles, and small rocks.
Small delicate tools are used in Bonseki such as feathers, small flax brooms, sifters, spoons ...
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Drapers.jpg, Azuma fūzoku fuku tsukushiseries:purchasing kimono cloth at the drapers
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu fugaku shū Clam diggers.jpg, Fugaku shū series:Women digging clams at the beach
Image:Gensei Kajin Shu by Yoshu Chikanobu 1890.png, Typical Meiji era pastimes
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Cha no yu.jpg, Japanese tea ceremony
The Japanese tea ceremony (known as or lit. 'Hot water for tea') is a Culture of Japan, Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of , powdered green tea, the procedure of which is called .
The term "Japa ...
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Ikebana.jpg, Japanese Flower Arranging Ikebana
is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. It is also known as . The origin of ikebana can be traced back to the ancient Japanese custom of erecting Evergreen, evergreen trees and decorating them with flowers as yorishiro () to invite the go ...
Emperor Meiji pictures
Examples of Emperor Meiji relaxing include:
Image:Kaika Tenran no Zu.jpg, Emperor Meiji at a Flower Show
Image:Emperor_Meiji_Empress_Shoken_Prince_Yoshihito_Asukayama_Park_Sightseeing_by_Toyohara_Chikanobu.png, Emperor Meiji at Asukayama Park
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Koki noryo no zu.jpg, Emperor Meiji enjoying the cool evening
Contrast pictures
Examples of include:
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu The Ox.jpg, Mitate jūni shi series The Sign of the Ox
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Gentō shashin kurabe Kanjinchō.jpg, Gentō shashin kurabe series Kanjinchō
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu Bell.jpg, Imayō tōkyō hakkei series Evening bell at Asakusa
Image:Yōshū Chikanobu ENSHI.jpg, Nijūshi Kō Mitate E Awase series The Deer Milker
Image:Yashu, Snow at Sano, Saimyo-ji, Sano Genzaemon and His Wife Shirotae.jpg, Snow at Sano, Saimyo-ji, Sano Genzaemon and His Wife Shirotae series Setsugekka Snow, Moon, Flowers
Glorification of the Geisha
Examples of this genre include:
Formats
Like the majority of his contemporaries, he worked mostly in the
ōban tate-e format. There are quite a number of single panel series, as well as many other prints in this format which are not a part of any series.
He produced several series in the
ōban yoko-e format, which were usually then folded cross-wise to produce an album.
Although he is, perhaps, best known for his triptychs, single topics and series, two diptych series are known as well. There are, at least, three
polyptych
A polyptych ( ; Greek: ''poly-'' "many" and ''ptychē'' "fold") is a work of art (usually a panel painting) which is divided into sections, or panels. Some definitions restrict "polyptych" to works with more than three sections: a diptych is ...
prints known.
His signature may also be found in the line drawings and illustrations in a number of ''
ehon
is the Japanese term for picture books. It may be applied in the general sense, or may refer specifically to a type of woodblock printed illustrated volume published in the Edo period (1603–1867).
The first were religious items with images ...
'' (絵本), which were mostly of a historical nature. In addition, there are fan prints ''
uchiwa-e'' (団扇絵), as well as number of sheets of ''
sugoroku
(literally 'double six') refers to two different forms of a Japanese board game: ''ban-sugoroku'' (盤双六, 'board-sugoroku') which is similar to western tables games like backgammon, and ''e-sugoroku'' (絵双六, 'picture-sugoroku') which i ...
'' (すごろく) with his signature that still exist and at least three prints in the
''kakemono-e'' format were produced in his latter years.
Selected works
In a statistical overview derived from writings by and about Hashimoto Toyohara,
OCLC
OCLC, Inc. See also: is an American nonprofit cooperative organization "that provides shared technology services, original research, and community programs for its membership and the library community at large". It was founded in 1967 as the ...
/
WorldCat
WorldCat is a union catalog that itemizes the collections of tens of thousands of institutions (mostly libraries), in many countries, that are current or past members of the OCLC global cooperative. It is operated by OCLC, Inc. Many of the O ...
encompasses roughly 300+ works in 300+ publications in 2 languages and 700+ library holdings
* (1878)
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* by (1895)
See also
*
List of works by Toyohara Chikanobu
*
List of ukiyo-e terms
A list is a set of discrete items of information collected and set forth in some format for utility, entertainment, or other purposes. A list may be memorialized in any number of ways, including existing only in the mind of the list-maker, but ...
*
War artist
A war artist is an artist either commissioned by a government or publication, or self-motivated, to document first-hand experience of war in any form of illustrative or depictive record.Imperial War Museum (IWM)header phrase, "war shapes lives" ...
Notes
Further reading
* Cavaye, Ronald; Paul Griffith; Akihiko Senda and Mansai Nomura. (2004). ''A Guide to the Japanese Stage: from Traditional to Cutting Edge.'' Tokyo: Kōdansha. ;
* Coats, Bruce; Kyoko Kurita; Joshua S. Mostow and Allen Hockley. (2006). ''Chikanobu: Modernity And Nostalgia in Japanese Prints''. Leiden: Hotei. ; ;
* Till, Barry. (2010). "Woodblock Prints of Meiji Japan (1868-1912): A View of History Though Art". Hong Kong: Arts of Asia. Vol. XL, no.4, pp. 76–98. ;
External links
Chikanobu and Yoshitoshi Woodblock Printsin the Claremont Colleges Digital Library
Chikanobu: The Artist's EyeChikanobu Woodblock PrintsUkiyo-e Prints by Toyohara ChikanobuBiography of Toyohara Chikanobu, ArtelinoBiography of Toyohara Chikanobu, Robyn Butin of HonoluluBiography of Toyohara Chikanobu, Ukiyo-e.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Toyohara, Chikanobu
1838 births
1912 deaths
19th-century Japanese painters
20th-century Japanese painters
20th-century Japanese printmakers
People from Jōetsu, Niigata
Utagawa school