"Takashima Chiharu was born in Osaka, but early in his career lived in Kyoto. There he learned Tosa School painting and copied traditional scroll paintings. He is said to have been knowledgeable about court customs. In 1816 he moved to Edo. He also illustrated books on traditional painting as well as one on accoutrements of the literati. He produced a number of surimono, mostly on courtly themes...He also designed a series on the medieval otogizōshi (didactic tale)..." From "Reading Surimono", ed. John T. Carpenter, 2008