Lady in Meiji Era (1868-1912)

A print depicting a lady in the Meiji era (1868–1912) — Chikanobu's own time, which from the perspective of his historical series occupied the final position in a long procession of eras from the ancient imperial court to the present. The Meiji-era lady in his historical series would wear the distinctive combination of traditional kimono and Western-influenced accessories that characterized elite feminine dress in the early decades of the new era, her costume a visual summary of Japan's cultural negotiation between tradition and modernity.