Chiyoda Inner Palace - First published from 1894 - 1897, Chikanobu's "Chiyoda Inner Palace" (Chiyoda no Ooku) series depicts the lives of women in Edo Castle prior to the Meiji Restoration, when it was home to the shogun and his court. Edo Castle was also known as Chiyoda Castle, and the series includes 40 triptychs. The Inner Palace area housed the shogun's wife and unmarried daughters, his male heir, and many ladies-in-waiting and servants. These lovely triptychs illustrate seasonal activities both inside and outside of the women's private quarters, and a variety of ceremonies, rituals, and pastimes. The beauties are elegantly attired as they go about their daily lives, with wonderful attention and detail given to their sumptuous kimono and obi fabrics. Many designs include deluxe printing techniques such as burnishing, embossing, and mica or metallic pigment. Chikanobu's lovely "Chiyoda Inner Palace" series beautifully captures the world of upper-class women in mid-nineteenth century Japan.

After a Bath, 1895 - Lovely triptych of a young beauty after her bath, wearing a blue and white cotton kimono, a towel on a stand next to her. An attendant offers her a cup of tea, while another turns the handle of a fan to cool her. Includes a faint embossed pattern of hollyhock leaves, a symbol of the Tokugawa shogunate, on the background. Nicely detailed with embossing on the blue and white kimono and the white kimono trim, and burnishing on the hair and black lacquer areas of the fan and towel stand.

Artist - Chikanobu (1838 - 1912)

Image Size - 13 7/8" x 28 3/8"

Condition - This print with excellent detail as shown. Three attached panels, backed with paper. Vertical folds between panels. Small hole, repaired. Slight toning and soiling, a few ripples and creases, light lines where backing papers meet. Please see photos for details.