Yōshū Chikanobu

Chikanobu Toyohara, also known artistically as Yoshu, was a significant ukiyo-e artist of the Meiji period. Born as Naoyoshi Hashimoto in Niigata Prefecture into a samurai family, he originally trained in the Kano style of painting. Chikanobu`s artistic career flourished after he moved to Tokyo, where he studied under Utagawa Kuniyoshi and later Kunisada I Utagawa, becoming a key figure in the Utagawa school. He gained prominence as a newspaper illustrator and later as an independent artist, exploring a range of subjects including kabuki actors, beautiful women, landscapes, and military scenes.
His work is noted for its integration of traditional Japanese techniques with Western influences, using materials like aniline dyes to add visual sophistication. Chikanobu`s later works often expressed nostalgia for traditional Japan, focusing on themes such as the heroism of samurais and the elegance of historical women`s attire. Among his notable series is "The Inner Palace of Chiyoda," which illustrated the life at the Tokugawa shogunate`s court. He left a profound legacy as one of the last great masters of ukiyo-e, capturing the cultural and social transitions of Japan during his time.