'Umbrella Give Away' Original Woodblock Triptych by Toyohara Chikanobu - Ca 1897

This old Japanese woodblock triptych is by Meiji era woodblock print artist Toyohara Chikanobu (1838 - 1912). This woodblock is entitled "Events Outside the Chiyoda Palace: Umbrella Give Away" and is from the series "Album of Men" (Chiyoda no Onomote). 

The woodblock depicts townspeople chaotically rushing to collect the free parasols that are being given out as gifts by the Tokugawa Shogunate. In the top right of the woodblock, you can see the shogun watching the noh performance which can be seen on the upper left of the woodblock. 

The noh play being performed is the story of Jo and Uba in a play about the spirits of the pine trees of Takasago & Sumiyoshi. 

The triptych was originally published by Gusokuya in 1897. Our favourite feature is the fish roof tile seen on the left most panel of the triptych. 

The full triptych can be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art & the British Museum.

For further reading, see 'Chikanobu: Modernity and Nostalgia in Japanese Prints' by Bruce Coats. 

Framed in a restored old gilt frame with some signs of age.

Print Size: 71 x 35 (wxh cms)

From Japan

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