Yōshū Chikanobu (楊洲周延)

Yōshū Chikanobu (楊洲周延) was a printmaker whose documented activity spanned the years 1867 to 1887. The artist’s output, primarily consisting of prints, is represented in significant international institutions, notably the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Fifteen of Yōshū Chikanobu’s prints are currently held in museum collections. These works frequently address historical, military, and courtly subject matter. Key examples include politically charged illustrations such as Illustration of the Inquisition of Ōyama Tsunayoshi (Ōyama Tsunayoshi kyūmon no zu) and Illustration of the Commanders who Pacified Western Japan, Receiving the Emperor's Gift Cups (Saigoku chinbu shoshō tenpai o tamau no zu). Other represented works focus on imperial and social life, including the print Emperor among Court Ladies and the album Twenty-six Prints Constituting an Album (Azuma fūzoku fuku tsukushi).

The documented presence of these pieces establishes Yōshū Chikanobu (楊洲周延)’s importance within the history of Japanese printmaking. Many of these historic works now reside in the public domain, making high-quality prints available for academic research and public viewing. Researchers and collectors often seek out Yōshū Chikanobu (楊洲周延) prints for their detailed documentation of the late nineteenth century.