Miya Mairi: Visiting a Shrine

Method Woodblock (nishiki-e)
Artist Toyohara Chikanobu (1838-1912)
Published 1896
Dimensions Ôban tate-e [~15.6 x 10.7 inches]
Notes Series: Azuma-Akawama: The East
Signature: Chikanobu
Seals: Artist's seal
Publisher: Fukuda Hatsujiro

A scene depicting a beauty stood looking off to the right at a pair of birds in flight. She carries what appears to be a child on her front, the carrier made of an intricate patterned material. Behind her a small child is partially hidden, a bag slung over their shoulder.

Toyohara Chikanobu ( 1838-1912) was a student of Toyohara Kunichika (not to be confused with the Kunichika Toyohara (1835-1900) of the same name). Originally Hashimoto, he took both the last name and the second part "chika" of his master's first name. This followed an old tradition of students inheriting the already established names of their masters.

Favorite subjects of Chikanobu were historical and mythological legends and histories from Japan's past and genre scenes with women and children. The percentage of triptychs among the prints created by the artist is maybe higher than for any other artist of the Meiji period.

His best known series are triptychs showing court life in and around the Chiyoda Palace. Like Chikanobu's contemporary, Yoshitoshi, his print themes concentrate on the history and traditional values of old Japan. These series must be seen against the background of an era when Japan was striving to adopt Western technology and civilization without any criticism. The Japanese society then regarded their own traditional and culture as something of low value that had to be replaced by Western values as fast as possible.

Condition: Backed onto an album page. Light toning and foxing to sheet.
Framing mounted
Price £250.00
Stock ID 52397

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