Shinkokyo Oite Seiden Kempo Happu no zu|View of the Issuance of the State Constitution in the State Chamber of the New Imperial Palace

Art Historical Context

Behold *View of the Issuance of the State in the State Chamber of the New Imperial Palace* (Shinkokyo Oite Seidenempo Happu no zu), a captivating woodblock print by Ad Ginkō, dated 2, 1889 (Meiji 22). This single sheet from a triptych captures a momentous scene inside the newly built Imperial Palace in Tokyo during Japan's Meiji period (1868–1912). On this date, the Meiji Constitution—Japan's first—was formally issued, proclaiming a constitutional monarchy and symbolizing the nation's rapid modernization after centuries of isolation. The print vividly depicts the opulent State Chamber filled with dignitaries, blending Western-inspired architecture with traditional Japanese interiors, attended by both men and women in formal attire. Adachi Ginkō, a skilled ukiyo-e artist active in the late 19th century, masterfully employed woodblock printing techniques—ink and vibrant colors on paper—to document contemporary history. Triptychs like this allowed panoramic storytelling, compressing grand events into intimate 14 3/4 × 9 1/2 in. formats ideal for public dissemination. Such prints bridged traditional Japanese art with modern subjects, making pivotal political moments accessible to everyday viewers. Today, this artwork, a gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art from Lincoln Kirstein in 1959, offers a window into Meiji Japan's transformative spirit, where ancient artistry met imperial ambition.

About the Artist

Adachi Ginkō · 1853–1908

Adachi Ginkō (安達 吟光, 1853–after 1908), born Adachi Heishichi in the spring of 1853, emerged as a prolific Japanese printmaker during the transformative Meiji era. Little is known of his early years beyond his birth in the second month of Kaei 6 (roughly March or April), but he pursued formal training under the painter Goseda Hōryū, a master of Western-style yōga techniques. This exposure to Europe...