$500–$8,000. Common court scenes: $500–$1,500. Key value factors: Triptychs of court scenes and modernization subjects are most popular. Condition is critical.
"Untitled" is a ukiyo-e / Meiji print by Toyohara Chikanobu, created during the Meiji period. This abstract work reflects the artist's exploration of form, color, and texture through the woodblock medium.
Toyohara Chikanobu approaches abstraction through the unique constraints and possibilities of woodblock printing, where the grain of the wood, the pressure of the baren, and the interaction of pigment and paper all contribute to the final image. Chikanobu specialized in scenes of court life, beautiful women in both traditional and Western dress, and historical subjects that documented Japan's rapid modernization during the Meiji era.
As a sosaku-hanga work — designed, carved, and printed entirely by the artist's own hand — this print embodies the creative philosophy that the printmaker's personal expression should permeate every stage of production, from concept to finished impression.
This print represents Toyohara Chikanobu's contribution to the ukiyo-e / Meiji tradition during the Meiji period. As with all works by this artist, it reflects both individual artistic vision and the broader cultural moment in which it was created. For collectors and admirers of Japanese printmaking, it offers a window into the sophisticated aesthetic world that produced some of the most beloved images in art history.
Meiji period, dated October 10, 1896
Woodblock print in "ōban" format; ink and color on paper
Woodblock print

Woodblock print

Woodblock print
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Untitled was created by Toyohara Chikanobu (豊原周延) in 1878.
Untitled depicts figures, bijin-ga, and abstract.