千代田の大奥|The Inner Palace of Chiyoda (Chiyoda no Ōoku)

Chikanobu employed traditional ukiyo‑e woodblock techniques, using multiple blocks to achieve bright, saturated hues and fine line work. The print’s intricate architectural fragments and natural scenery are rendered with precise carving, allowing the delicate balance of foreground and background to emerge across the two panels.

The diptych was produced during the Meiji period, a time when Japanese artists increasingly catered to both domestic and foreign audiences. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the early twentieth century, reflecting the museum’s early interest in Japanese printmaking.

Printed at a time when Japan was opening to the West, Chikanobu’s work often blended traditional subjects with modern sensibilities. The inclusion of a formal seal in the lower left corner underscores the print’s official character, while the poetic inscription aligns it with the literary traditions that accompanied many ukiyo‑e prints.