Twenty-six Prints Constituting an Album (Azuma fūzoku fuku tsukushi) - Yōshū Chikanobu

A woodblock print by Yōshū Chikanobu from 1895, depicting women in a garden during a gust of wind, capturing a fleeting moment of Meiji-period life.

This woodblock print is part of the series Azuma fūzoku fuku tsukushi, or Twenty-six Prints Constituting an Album, produced by Yōshū Chikanobu in 1895. Chikanobu was a prolific artist during the Meiji period, a time of rapid modernisation in Japan. His work often documents the changing social customs and fashion of the era, bridging the gap between traditional Edo-period aesthetics and the new influences of the late nineteenth century.

The composition depicts a group of women in a garden setting, caught in a gust of wind. The movement is captured through the billowing fabric of their kimonos and the scattering of cherry blossom petals across the frame. The central figure wears a blue kimono decorated with floral motifs, her posture suggesting a momentary pause amidst the breeze. To the right, another figure sits on a bench, observing the scene, while others in the background react to the sudden weather change. The use of colour is balanced, with the cool blue of the central garment contrasting against the muted greens of the ground and the dark silhouettes of the trees in the distance.

Chikanobu employs the traditional woodblock technique to render the textures of the fabric and the delicate nature of the falling petals. The print reflects the artist's interest in the daily lives of women, a common theme in his output. By focusing on a specific, fleeting moment, the work provides a glimpse into the social atmosphere of the time. The cartouche in the upper right corner identifies the series, while the artist's signature and seal are present in the lower right. This piece offers a clear example of the stylistic transition occurring in Japanese printmaking during the late Meiji years, maintaining traditional composition while documenting contemporary life.