Coats (art history and humanities, Scripps College) presents the first monograph in English on the Meiji print artist Yoshu Chikanobu (1838-1912), well known for his depictions of women and
scenes of Japanese history and legends. Coats places Chikanobu's life and works in the historic and artistic context of Meiji Japan, when rapid modernization and westernization created an
interest for old Japan among the Japanese and when arts underwent significant changes. Hockley (art history, Dartmouth), Kurita (Asian languages and literatures, Pomona) and Mostow (Asian
studies, U. of British Columbia) contribute essays on Chikanobu's work as it relates to Meiji literature, the heroic ethos in the late Meiji period, and other topics relevant to the period. The
text contains over 270 full color illustrations; two of Chikanobu's series of prints are illustrated in their entirety. Annotation 穢2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
