Because of its singularity, attention to detail, and gorgeous use of colour, woodblock printing was an exceptionally well-liked form of artistic expression in Asian culture, and to this day, people from all over the globe are fascinated in this particular kind of artwork. Chikanobu is the name of a specific artist who creates prints using woodblocks. The fact that this artist had a split personality, which led to his producing work in a variety of genres, is without a doubt the most intriguing aspect of the circumstances around him as an artist.
To begin, Chikanobu was renowned for his work in creating triptychs for the Kabuki theatre. In most cases, these prints were created using woodblocks, and the designs used vivid hues like red and purple. There was a lack of inventiveness and originality in these products, despite the fact that they had a variety of style figures that were characteristic of the Utagawa School. Chikanobu also wrote in a second genre, which focused on historical events, particularly those that occurred in the late 19th century. Several of these works, like as “Snow, Moon, and Flowers” and “Shin Bijin,” have attained an extraordinary level of popularity in recent years.
Chikanobu developed these historical artworks utilising softer colours and a distinct design style that clearly generated something intricate and lovely, which is very different from the harsh colours and dramatic portrayals that were used in the previous works. Regardless of the work that was done, Chikanobu always utilised a unique signature that was inspired in some way by his incredible sense of style as well as his fierce personality. As a result of Chikanobu’s decision to create art outside of the constraints imposed by the Kunichika School, his work was fairly well received, which enabled him to earn a comfortable life.
A significant portion of Chikanobu’s oeuvre was comprised of triptychs that depicted festivities and attractive royal ladies. One thing that stands out about the work of this artist is that, in contrast to other painters working during the same time period, he choose to depict ladies with very enormous heads. In his work, Chikanobu is known for adopting classic concepts and imbuing them with his own personal flair in order to produce original works that cannot be replicated by anyone else. Many people believe that this individual was caught between the more traditional and modern aspects of Japanese society.
However, one of the things that distinguish him from other painters is the levels of detail that he achieves in his woodblock prints. It is stated that several of Chikanobu’s works were responsible for pushing new styles forward in the field of Ukiyo-e. His art is unquestionably innovative and difficult to understand. Chikanobu would, on several occasions, go to places he had never been before, bringing with him his great sense of design and colour, with the intention of creating something unique and very captivating. The majority of this artist’s works included a hazy quality, and they often included fluffy clouds or a fading effect. Again, this distinctive fashion was something that was quite revitalising.
The capacity to go further into certain aspects of Japanese history is something that stands out most prominently in Chikanobu’s woodblock prints. This is the first thing that comes to mind while seeing his work. This artist’s self-awareness and the dynamic approach that he took to his work were two of the factors that contributed to his phenomenal level of achievement. Without a shadow of a doubt, the work of Chikanobu captivates the attention of the spectator as they gasp in wonder at the vibrant colours and incredible level of detail.
