{"product_id":"picture-book-of-crawling-creatures-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"Picture Book of Crawling Creatures - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA refined woodblock print cover design featuring delicate botanical studies, originally published in the 1788 anthology Ehon mushi erami.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis print serves as the cover for the Ehon mushi erami, or Picture Book of Crawling Creatures, a celebrated kyoka poetry anthology published in 1788. Kitagawa Utamaro, a master of the Ukiyo-e tradition, collaborated with poets to produce this work, which combines natural history with literary art. The cover design features a series of horizontal bands containing delicate botanical studies, including grasses and small flowering plants. These elements are rendered with a refined, calligraphic line that captures the essence of the flora without unnecessary ornamentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition is balanced and restrained, reflecting the aesthetic preferences of the Edo period literati. The muted, earthy tones of the paper provide a neutral ground for the subtle greens and browns of the vegetation. Unlike the more dramatic figure prints for which Utamaro is often recognised, this design demonstrates his ability to observe the natural world with precision and grace. The inclusion of the title cartouche on the left side integrates the text into the overall visual arrangement, maintaining the harmony of the page.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a piece of book design, this print illustrates the high standard of woodblock printing during the late eighteenth century. The registration of the colours and the clarity of the lines indicate the skill of the carvers and printers involved in the project. This work remains a significant example of the intersection between poetry and visual art in Japanese culture. It offers a quiet, contemplative view of nature, focusing on the small details of the environment that are often overlooked. The print is suitable for those who appreciate the minimalist beauty of traditional Japanese graphic design and the historical context of the Ukiyo-e movement.\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\/the-actor-segawa-kikunojo-ii-as-the-courtesan-umegae-suzuki-harunobu\" 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 Actor Segawa Kikunojo II as the Courtesan Umegae - Suzuki Harunobu — Suzuki Harunobu\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/mountains-and-rivers-along-the-kisokaido-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;\"\u003eMountains and Rivers Along the Kisokaidō - 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":59031072014671,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59031096230223,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59031096262991,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59031096295759,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59031096328527,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59031096361295,"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":59031096394063,"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":59031096426831,"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":59031096459599,"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":59031096492367,"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":59031096525135,"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":59031096557903,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Picture-Book-of-Crawling-Creatures_Poster_CompositorV1_1791334779609.jpg?v=1791335932","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/picture-book-of-crawling-creatures-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}