Chūjōhime
circa 1875-1885
This fascinating sketch by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi offers a rare peek into the workshop of a ukiyo-e master. Bold black ink lines define a rugged warrior and a kneeling woman, while red sketch lines reveal the artist's initial ideas or corrections. The subject is the legendary Chūjōhime, a noblewoman from Japanese folklore who was abandoned by her stepmother and raised in a temple. This drawing served as a blueprint for a woodblock print in a series celebrating famous women of Japan. Yoshitoshi, often called the last great ukiyo-e artist, was known for his dramatic historical scenes, and this sketch shows his dynamic energy before the woodcarver took over.
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