Author: Chikanobu, Toyohara.
Title: Customs and Manners of Yearly Events in the Eastern Capital: January. [Full set of the proof-impression, the final state and all intermediary impressions].
Description: Tokyo, Hasegawa Sonokichi, Meiji 23 [1890]. 27 prints / states. Oban (untrimmed: size: 38.2 x 25.9 cm.). Ukiyo-é: Japanese colour woodblock-print. - Kyogozuri-é (first state / proof-state) sl. discoloured along the upper and right edge, minimally frayed along the corners; all others in good condition; the last print is an unknown state although validated with publisher's seal, it does not contain the yellow cat with the publisher's adress that is known in existant copies that were intended for trade; all prints individually numbered with a very small handwritten Japanese character in the upper-right corner; some prints numbered with a small stamp in the upper-left corner.* Extremely rare suite of 27 Japanese Ukiyo-e prints (Oban), consisting off all the different states of one single print. From the series: Customs and Manners of Yearly Events in the Eastern Capital (also known as: The Calender of Eastern Customs). The print can be classified as Bijin-ga, in which a female beauty is depicted in a traditional Japanese setting. This print is the first from the series, its literal title is: The first Month. Chikanobu depicts a woman picking the leaves from a cherry. Her light-blue kimono has a prune-blossom pattern, between her arms she is holding either a fan or a booklet with a depiction of two Kabuki-players. In the background there are two kites. Lavishly executed print in which various techniques are used such as: embossing of certain features in the face and kimono (karazuri), a gradual colour-patern in the sky (bokashizuri), extra detailling in her hair (kewari). All states are present starting from the kyogozuri-é (the first print, still in black and white). Toyohara Chikanobu (1838-1912) was also known as Yoshu Chikanbanobu, his real name was Hashimoto Naoyoshi. He started working as an artist in 1875. Initially he would study painting within the so-called Kano-school, but would change his focus to the production of Ukiyo-é (Japanese woodblock printing). He studied with a disciple of Eisen and would later join the school of Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi. After Kuniyoshi's death, he studied with Kunisada. Chikanobu produced prints with a great variety of subjects: Japanese mythology, battlefields and many prints depicting Bijin-ga (natural beauty / women in traditional clothing).

Keywords: Asian art Graphic Woodcuts Japon Aziatische kunst / Japan(Originele grafiek) Graphic Asia Japan Aziatische kunst Grafiek Houtsneden Japan Aziatische kunst / Japan(Originele grafiek) Grafiek Azië