| Method | Woodblock (nishiki-e) |
| Artist | Toyohara Chikanobu (1838-1912) |
| Published | |
| Dimensions | Ôban tate-e triptych [Each sheet ~15.6 x 10.7 inches] |
| Notes |
Series title: Edo masago nenchou gyoji: Annual Events of the prosperous Edo Artist signature : Yoshu Chikanobu hitsu Publisher: Morimoto Junzaburo Women on a balcony preparing for the Tanabata Festival. Literally translated Tanabata means the Evening of the Seven but is commonly referred to as the Star Festival. The festival takes pace on the seventh day of the seventh month in the lunisolar calendar with some festivities taking place on the 7th of July and through the 7th of August. The festival celebrates the meeting of two deities Orihime and Hikoboshi. According to legend the deities ho are lovers are separated by the Milk Way and they can only meet once a year. Customs for this festival include people writing wishes on tanzaku paper and hanging them on bamboo. 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: Minor creasing, worm hole in central panel |
| Framing | framed |
| Price | £700.00 |
| Stock ID | 53053 |