{"product_id":"murasaki-shikibu-bird-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"Murasaki Shikibu: Bird - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA refined ukiyo-e woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicting the poetess Murasaki Shikibu with a caged bird.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicts the Heian-period author Murasaki Shikibu, best known for writing The Tale of Genji. The work belongs to the series Famous Women and Their Poems on Flowers, Birds, Wind, and Moon. Utamaro, a master of the ukiyo-e genre, focuses here on the elegant figure of the poetess as she interacts with a small bird contained within a cage. The cage rests inside a wooden basin, a composition that draws the eye to the interaction between the human subject and the animal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe artist employs his characteristic style, featuring elongated proportions and a focus on the grace of the subject. The kimono worn by Murasaki Shikibu is decorated with a floral pattern, rendered with precision. The print includes calligraphic text, which provides context for the scene and links the visual imagery to classical Japanese poetry. The colour palette is restrained, relying on soft tones to maintain a sense of balance and harmony. The lines are thin and controlled, typical of the high-quality printing techniques used during the Edo period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUtamaro was highly regarded for his ability to capture the psychological depth of his subjects, often moving beyond simple portraiture to suggest a narrative or emotional state. In this instance, the quiet focus of the poetess suggests a moment of contemplation. The inclusion of the bird cage serves as a thematic element, connecting the print to the broader series title which references the natural world. This piece offers a glimpse into the aesthetic values of the late eighteenth century in Japan, where literature and visual art were closely intertwined. The print is a fine example of the technical skill involved in multi-block printing, where each colour and line required a separate carved block to achieve the final result.\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":58929775935823,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58929945968975,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58929946001743,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58929946034511,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58929946067279,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58929946100047,"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":58929946132815,"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":58929946165583,"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":58929946198351,"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":58929946231119,"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":58929946263887,"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":58929946296655,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Murasaki-Shikibu_-Bird_Poster_CompositorV1_1790703109823.jpg?v=1790703692","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/de\/products\/murasaki-shikibu-bird-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}