{"product_id":"catching-fireflies-beneath-a-willow-tree-left-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"Catching Fireflies Beneath a Willow Tree (left) - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA refined ukiyo-e woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro, depicting a woman and child catching fireflies beneath a willow tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicts a nocturnal scene featuring two women and a young child engaged in the traditional pastime of catching fireflies. The composition is the left panel of a larger triptych, capturing a moment of quiet activity under the boughs of a willow tree. Utamaro, a master of the ukiyo-e genre, is recognised for his ability to render the human form with elongated proportions and expressive facial features.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe figures are dressed in detailed kimono, with the central woman reaching upward with a fan, a gesture that draws the eye toward the upper portion of the frame. The child stands to the right, holding a small cage intended for the insects. The willow tree provides a vertical anchor for the composition, its drooping branches framing the figures against a dark, atmospheric background. The colour palette is restrained, relying on soft earth tones, muted greys, and subtle peach accents to convey the dim light of evening.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUtamaro’s work often focused on the lives of women in Edo-period Japan, ranging from courtesans to domestic figures. His approach to line work is precise, defining the folds of fabric and the delicate features of his subjects with calligraphic grace. The print demonstrates the technical skill of the carvers and printers who collaborated with the artist to produce these multi-block images. By focusing on a specific, fleeting activity, the artist creates a narrative that feels both intimate and observational. This piece offers a view into the aesthetic preferences of the late eighteenth century, where the depiction of leisure and nature was a common subject for the urban print-buying public.\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=\"\/products\/women-near-a-river-utagawa-kuniyoshi\" 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;\"\u003eWomen Near a River - Utagawa Kuniyoshi — Utagawa Kuniyoshi\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/nihonbashi-morning-scene-utagawa-hiroshige-1\" 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;\"\u003eNihonbashi: Morning Scene - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\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":58345630007631,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58345694429519,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58345694462287,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58345694495055,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58345694527823,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58345694560591,"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":58345694593359,"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":58345694626127,"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":58345694658895,"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":58345694691663,"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":58345694724431,"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":58345694757199,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Catching-Fireflies-Beneath-a-Willow-Tree-left-_Poster_CompositorV1_1785391630845.jpg?v=1785395506","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/catching-fireflies-beneath-a-willow-tree-left-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}