Very good antique condition. The printed lines remain sharp, and the colors are vivid and well-preserved. There is minimal staining or humidity-related discoloration and slight fraying along the edges, consistent with age, but the triptych displays beautifully overall.
This original Meiji-period ōban triptych was designed during the 1880s by Toyohara Chikanobu. Titled Miyajima Yūran no Zu (宮島遊覧之図, Pleasure Excursion at Miyajima), it depicts an elegant gathering of women enjoying one of Japan's most celebrated scenic destinations.
The composition shows fashionably dressed women relaxing on a veranda overlooking the calm waters surrounding Itsukushima. Boats pass through the Inland Sea while seasonal flowers, luxurious furnishings, and richly patterned kimono create an atmosphere of refinement and leisure. The scene reflects the growing popularity of domestic sightseeing during the early Meiji period.
Miyajima, also known as Itsukushima, has long been regarded as one of Japan's Nihon Sankei (Three Famous Scenic Views). As transportation improved during the Meiji era, travel to famous scenic destinations became increasingly accessible, inspiring artists such as Chikanobu to celebrate Japan's natural beauty alongside the elegance of contemporary life.
Chikanobu was renowned for portraying fashionable Meiji women while blending traditional Japanese aesthetics with the rapidly changing society of the late nineteenth century. His graceful figures, elaborate textiles, and brilliant imported aniline pigments made him one of the defining artists of the Meiji period.
A beautiful original Meiji triptych combining scenic landscape, elegant figures, and one of Japan's most iconic destinations.
