{"product_id":"picture-book-with-playful-poems-for-the-young-god-ebisu-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"Picture Book with Playful Poems for the Young God Ebisu - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA rare 1792 woodblock-printed book cover by Kitagawa Utamaro, featuring traditional Japanese calligraphy and a weathered, textured aesthetic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis print represents the cover of the 'Ehon waka Ebisu', a collaborative publication featuring the work of Kitagawa Utamaro. Published in 1792, this volume belongs to the tradition of 'kyoka' books, which were popular among the literary and artistic circles of Edo-period Japan. These books combined visual art with humorous or satirical poetry, often produced for private circulation among connoisseurs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cover design displays the aesthetic sensibilities of the late eighteenth century. It features a vertical title slip on the left side, containing the Japanese characters for the book title. The main field of the cover exhibits a weathered, dark blue-grey surface, showing signs of age and handling, including fine cracks and paper degradation. This texture provides a tactile quality that contrasts with the clean, bold calligraphy of the title label. The inclusion of a small, modern archival label at the top indicates its historical preservation within a collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUtamaro is widely recognised for his contributions to the ukiyo-e genre, particularly his depictions of women and his mastery of the woodblock printing process. While this specific image serves as a functional book cover, it reflects the broader cultural integration of text and image that defined the period. The composition is restrained, focusing on the balance between the dark, textured background and the structured placement of the title. This piece offers a glimpse into the material culture of the Edo period, where even the exterior of a book was treated with careful attention to design and presentation. It is a rare example of the physical form of a kyoka anthology, preserved through time to provide insight into the collaborative artistic practices of the era.\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\/portraits-and-poems-of-the-thirty-six-poetic-immortals-sumiyoshi-gukei\" 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;\"\u003ePortraits and Poems of the Thirty-six Poetic Immortals - Sumiyoshi Gukei — Gukei\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/the-ide-tamagawa-river-in-yamashiro-province-soshuya-yohei\" 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 Ide Tamagawa River in Yamashiro Province - Soshuya Yohei — Soshuya Yohei\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":58910607311183,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58910609670479,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58910609703247,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58910609736015,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58910609768783,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58910609801551,"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":58910609834319,"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":58910609867087,"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":58910609899855,"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":58910609932623,"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":58910609965391,"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":58910609998159,"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-with-Playful-Poems-for-the-Young-God-Ebisu_Poster_CompositorV1_1790634301791.jpg?v=1790635480","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/picture-book-with-playful-poems-for-the-young-god-ebisu-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}