Kempo happu shiki no zu|View of the Issuance of the Constitution

Art Historical Context

In March 1889, Japanese Baiju Kunitoshi a pivotal moment in his triptych woodblock printKempo happu sh no zu (View of the Issuance the Constitution)*. This vibrant work, rendered in ink and color on, depicts the grand ceremony at which Emperor Meiji promulgated Japan's first constitution, transforming the nation from a feudal shogunate into a modern monarchy. The oban-sized panels (14 1/2 x 28 5/8 in.) unfold a bustling scene filled with dignitaries, blending men and women in formal attire amid ornate architecture and fluttering banners. Created during the Meiji period (1868–1912), a time of rapid Western-inspired reforms, the print celebrates Japan's embrace of parliamentary government and legal equality—though limited in practice. Kunitoshi, working in the ukiyo-e tradition of multicolored woodblock printing, skillfully layered colors through intricate carving and precise registration, evoking the excitement of public spectacle. Such prints democratized historical events, making imperial ceremonies accessible to everyday viewers. Today, this Metropolitan Museum of Art treasure (gift of Lincoln Kirstein, 1960) offers a window into Meiji Japan's cultural shift, where traditional artistry met modern ambition, immortalizing a ceremony that shaped the nation's future.