Chiyoda Castle (Album of Women)
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)
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
JP3529
Tags
Art Historical Context
**Chiyoda Castle (Album of Women)**, created by the renowned ukiyo-e master Yōshū (Hashimoto) Chikanobu 1895, captures a vibrant scene from Japan's Meiji period (1868–1912). This triptych of woodblock prints, rendered in vivid ink and color on paper likely depicts a lively crowd of women at Chiyoda Castle—once the heart of Edo Castle and imperial residence. Chikanobu, known for his dynamic compositions blending historical themes with elegant female figures (bijin-ga), showcases the grace and energy of everyday life amid Japan's rapid modernization. The triptych format, a hallmark of ukiyo-e a...
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 ...