Hasegawa Chikuyō

Hasegawa Chikuyō (長谷川竹葉), also known as Kannosuke (勘之助), was a Japanese artist and illustrator active in Tōkyō (東京) from 1876 to 1889 during the Meiji period. Little is known about his life and career, including his birth and death years. He was a pupil of Kunisada I (歌川国貞) and exhibited a strong influence from Hiroshige III (三代歌川広重) in his style, as observed in one of his few known works, "Sights of Tōkyō Enlightenment" (東京開化名勝).
His works primarily encompass two genres: kaika-e (開化絵), depicting cultural transformations during Japan's modernization, and uchiwa-e (団扇絵), which are fan prints.
In addition to kaika-e triptychs, in 1881 he produced the series "Twelve Scenic Views of Nikko". His known art names include Chikuyō (竹葉) and Suiken (翠軒). Among his lesser-known works is "View of the Tomioka Silk Mill in Jōshū" (上州富岡製糸場之図), but overall, the number of his works is limited. Chikuyō is renowned for capturing the transformations of the Meiji era through his vivid drawings that reflect both the artistic influence of his mentor and the innovations of the time.