Cherry Blossoms at the Palace: Felicitations for a Thousand Ages (Gosho sakura chiyo no kotobuki)
Yôshû Chikanobu (Hashimoto Chikanobu)
(Japanese, 1838–1912)
Toshimo Toshin
(Japanese)
Muneoka Shinkichi
(Japanese, born in 1858)
1880 (Meiji 13), December 20
Medium/TechniqueWoodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
DimensionsVertical ôban triptych; 37 x 75.3 cm (14 9/16 x 29 5/8 in.)
Credit LineJean S. and Frederic A. Sharf Collection
Accession number2000.238a-c
On View
Not on viewClassificationsPrints
Collections
In the Meiji era (1868–1912), print artists often depicted the Meiji emperor and his family, but the titles and the drawing of the figures are kept deliberately vague, as a sign of respect. This fantasy of life in the palace features the little prince (the future Taishō Emperor), who was about one year old at the time and had just recovered from a serious illness, probably meningitis. The standing man in a Western-style uniform represents the Meiji Emperor, gazing fondly at his heir; the Empress is seated at the right, surrounded by ladies-in-waiting . The baby was the legal son of the Empress but the biological child of one of the secondary wives. All later emperors, however, followed the European custom of having only a single wife.
ProvenanceVarious dealers: primarily in London and Tokyo. Purchased between 1985-1999.Yôshû Chikanobu (Hashimoto Chikanobu)
1879 (Meiji 12), 7th month
Yôshû Chikanobu (Hashimoto Chikanobu)
1894 (Meiji 27), August
Yôshû Chikanobu (Hashimoto Chikanobu)
1877 (Meiji 10), May
Yôshû Chikanobu (Hashimoto Chikanobu)
1877 (Meiji 10), August 27
Yôshû Chikanobu (Hashimoto Chikanobu)
1878 (Meiji 11), Spring
Yôshû Chikanobu (Hashimoto Chikanobu)
1878 (Meiji 11), May
Yôshû Chikanobu (Hashimoto Chikanobu)
1878 (Meiji 11), May 1
Popular and Prosperous Pleasure Quarters: The Inamoto House (Zensei kuruwa no nigiwai: Inamoto tôrô)
Yôshû Chikanobu (Hashimoto Chikanobu)
1879 (Meiji 12)
Yôshû Chikanobu (Hashimoto Chikanobu)
about 1880 (Meiji 13)
Yôshû Chikanobu (Hashimoto Chikanobu)
1880 (Meiji 13), March
Yôshû Chikanobu (Hashimoto Chikanobu)
1880 (Meiji 13), May
Yôshû Chikanobu (Hashimoto Chikanobu)
1881 (Meiji 14)