{"product_id":"hawk-on-a-plum-branch-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"Hawk on a Plum Branch - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA refined woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro, featuring a hawk perched on a flowering plum branch, rendered with precise line work and a muted palette.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKitagawa Utamaro is primarily recognised for his portraits of women, yet his work in the kacho-ga genre, or bird-and-flower painting, demonstrates a precise observational skill. This woodblock print depicts a hawk perched upon a gnarled plum branch. The composition balances the sharp, predatory focus of the bird with the delicate, linear quality of the flowering plum blossoms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUtamaro employs a restrained palette, allowing the texture of the bird's plumage to take precedence. The feathers are rendered with fine, repetitive lines that suggest both volume and softness. In contrast, the plum branch is depicted with bolder, more expressive strokes, capturing the rough texture of the bark. The background remains largely unadorned, a common technique in Japanese printmaking to focus the viewer on the subject matter without distraction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe hawk, a symbol of strength and vigilance in Japanese art, is positioned with a sense of quiet readiness. The plum blossoms, often associated with the arrival of spring and resilience, provide a counterpoint to the bird's stillness. This print reflects the technical mastery of the Edo period woodblock process, where the carver and printer worked in concert with the artist to achieve subtle gradations of ink and precise registration. The work serves as an example of how Utamaro applied his keen eye for human character to the natural world, treating the hawk with a similar level of individualised attention. The print is a study in contrast, balancing the organic curves of the flora against the structured, angular form of the raptor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/the-famous-practical-jokers-yajirobei-at-a-wayside-restaurant-utagawa-hiroshige\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThe Famous Practical Jokers: Yajirobei at a Wayside Restaurant - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/view-of-benten-shrine-on-nakanoshima-island-in-shinobazu-pond-ueno-park-utagawa-hiroshige-iii\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eView of Benten Shrine on Nakanoshima Island in Shinobazu Pond, Ueno Park - Utagawa Hiroshige III — Utagawa Hiroshige III\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Kitagawa Utamaro","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58932983005519,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58933496742223,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58933496774991,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58933496807759,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58933496840527,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58933496873295,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58933496906063,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58933496938831,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58933496971599,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58933497004367,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58933497037135,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58933497069903,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Hawk-on-a-Plum-Branch_Poster_CompositorV1_1790707494552.jpg?v=1790708042","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/de\/products\/hawk-on-a-plum-branch-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}