Eastern Brocades, Day and Night Compared - Designed in 1886, Chikanobu's extraordinary "Eastern Brocade" series features a fantastic range of subjects, including brave warriors, eerie ghosts, timeless beauties, and famous figures from traditional tales of triumph and treachery. These beautiful images bring the history and legends of Japan to life with colorful characters and a wonderful attention to detail. Note the appealing compositions and fine printing in these Meiji era masterworks, many of which include deluxe treatments such as burnishing, embossing, or the addition of mica. These attractive designs are a nice choice to collect or display.

Okubo Hikozaemon, No. 19 - Intriguing image of Okubo Hikozaemon Tadanori, one of Tokugawa Ieyasu's faithful advisors, firing a matchlock gun at his neighbors, whom he believed had dishonored a pine tree given to him by Ieyasu. He stands below the tree, the gun in one hand and his other resting on his sword, as he aims at two beauties lounging on a verandah. The women seem completely oblivious to his presence, one fanning herself while the other adjusts a hairpin. Above, the inset shows Okubo traveling to Edo Castle in a wooden washtub suspended from a pole carried by two porters. He did this as a form of protest against the order prohibiting those below a certain rank from riding in palanquins. An interesting scene with lovely detail.

Artist - Chikanobu (1838 - 1912)

Image Size - 12 7/8" x 8 3/4" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Backed with paper. A few wormholes, repaired. Slight soiling, light ink offsetting, slight rubbing near edges. Please see photos for details. Good overall.