Chikanobu Toyohara (1838-1912)
Chikanobu, who was born Hashimoto, studied with Toyohara Kunichika and was, together with his contemporary Yoshitoshi Taiso, one of the greatest artist in Meiji era.
His favorite subjects were the legends, myths and the historical past of Japan. As with Yoshitoshi, several of his works can be read as a defense of the traditional values and customs of Japan, in a time of growing adoption of Western technology and civilization.
Chikanobu excelled in the representation of the great events of his time, and thus become a sort of official artist of the new elite. He also deserves attention for the way he approached the female portrait, where he is the great predecessor the Shin Hanga movement.
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