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
JP3536
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegant world of Meiji-era with *Chiyoda Castle ( of Women)*, a captivating triptych woodblock by Yōshū (Hashimoto) Chikan, created in 1895. This from the "Album of Women" series showcases Chikanobu's mastery of ukiyo-e, the "pictures of the floating world" tradition that celebrated beauty, daily life, and historical vignettes. Rendered in vibrant inks and colors on paper, triptych format allows for a panoramic view, unfolding like a scroll to immerse viewers in the opulent interiors of Chiyoda Castle—once the heart of Edo (modern Tokyo) and imperial residence. During the Meiji ...
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 ...