Emperor Meiji and Empress at Horse Races
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Format:
- Oban
- Source:
- Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
A print depicting Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken attending horse races — one of the Western-influenced social activities that the Meiji imperial couple adopted as emblems of Japan's modernity. Horse racing, introduced from the West in the Meiji period, became associated with high society and imperial favor, and the emperor's attendance at races gave the new sport both social cachet and patriotic significance. Chikanobu's image documents the transformation of the imperial institution from the cloistered, divine monarchy of the past to a visible, public-facing modern royal family.
Meiji period, dated October 10, 1896
Woodblock print in "ōban" format; ink and color on paper
Woodblock print
Woodblock print
Woodblock print
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1935
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1964
Acrylic paint and oil pastel with oiled charcoal and ink over an ink and graphite underdrawing on paper
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Color lithograph with relief block and hand coloring; edition 35/36
Emperor Meiji and Empress at Horse Races was created by Toyohara Chikanobu (豊原周延).
Emperor Meiji and Empress at Horse Races depicts animals.