{"product_id":"delivering-new-year-gifts-in-the-snow-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"Delivering New Year Gifts in the Snow - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA refined ukiyo-e woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro, depicting a winter scene of gift-giving during the New Year period in Edo-period Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro originates from the kyoka anthology titled The Young God Ebisu (Waka Ebisu), published around 1789. The scene captures a quiet winter morning during the New Year period, a time traditionally associated with gift-giving and social visits in Edo-period Japan. Utamaro, known primarily for his portraits of women, demonstrates his versatility here by depicting a narrative genre scene set against a snowy backdrop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition is balanced, featuring figures moving across a light, snow-covered ground. To the left, a man carries a child on his back, both shielded by a large paper umbrella. In the centre, a porter balances a heavy box on a pole, while a third figure, wearing a straw cape, walks alongside two dogs. To the right, a woman observes the activity from an elevated wooden balcony, her presence adding a sense of domestic scale to the outdoor scene. The architectural elements, including the wooden fence and the gate decorated with pine branches, provide context for the seasonal celebration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTechnically, the print employs the refined aesthetic typical of late eighteenth-century ukiyo-e. The line work is precise, defining the figures and their garments with clarity. The colour palette is restrained, relying on soft earth tones and muted washes to convey the chill of the snow. The use of negative space is deliberate, allowing the viewer to focus on the interaction between the figures and their environment. This work serves as an example of the collaborative nature of illustrated books, where poetry and visual art functioned together to entertain the urban population of Edo. The inclusion of small details, such as the birds perched on the roof and the subtle texture of the snow, reflects the artist's attention to the nuances of daily life.\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=\"\/sv\/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=\"\/sv\/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":58933786607951,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58933843722575,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58933843755343,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58933843788111,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58933843820879,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58933843853647,"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":58933843886415,"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":58933843919183,"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":58933843951951,"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":58933843984719,"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":58933844017487,"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":58933844050255,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Delivering-New-Year-Gifts-in-the-Snow_Poster_CompositorV1_1790708068779.jpg?v=1790708982","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/sv\/products\/delivering-new-year-gifts-in-the-snow-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}