Chiyoda Castle (Album of Men)
Medium
Triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
L. (page) 13 7/8 in. (35.2 cm); W. (page) 9 1/4 in. (23.4 cm); thickness of album 1 9/16 in. (4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Meiji period (1868–1912)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. W. Walton Butterworth, 1979
Accession Number
JP3588
Tags
Art Historical Context
**Chiyoda Castle ( of Men)**, created in 1897 by the prolific ukiyo-e master Yōshū (Hashimoto) Chikanobu captures the dynamic spirit of Japan's Meiji period (1868–1912). This triptych of woodblock prints, rendered in vibrant ink and color on paper forms part of an album measuring about 14 inches long per page. Chikanobu, renowned for his historical scenes and warrior imagery, depicts male figures amid the grand setting of Chiyoda Castleonce Edo Castle, the heart of imperial power in Tokyo. Tags evoke archery, horses, trees, and men in action, suggesting a vivid portrayal of samurai or retainer...
About the Artist
Yōshū (Hashimoto) Chikanobu · 1838–1912
Toyohara Chikanobu, born Hashimoto Naoyoshi in 1838 in Echigo Province (modern Niigata Prefecture), emerged as one of the last great ukiyo-e masters during Japan's Meiji era. The son of a low-ranking samurai retainer to the Sakakibara clan, he trained initially in the Kanō school of painting before turning to ukiyo-e printmaking. He studied under a disciple of Keisai Eisen, then joined the studio ...