Catching Fireflies Beneath a Willow Tree (left) - Kitagawa Utamaro
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
Secure checkout
Made to order
Description
A refined ukiyo-e woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro, depicting a woman and child catching fireflies beneath a willow tree.
This 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.
The 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.
Utamaro’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.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
Shipping
We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Catching Fireflies Beneath a Willow Tree (left) - Kitagawa Utamaro
Artist Biography
Kitagawa Utamaro
Almost nothing is certain about his early life. He was born around 1753, possibly in Edo, possibly in Kyoto, possibly in Kawagoe. He began publishing prints in the 1770s under the guidance of the publisher Tsutaya Juzaburo, who recognised what Utamaro could do with a portrait of a woman.
What he could do was unprecedented. He invented the okubi-e format: large head-and-shoulders portraits of individual women, mostly from the Yoshiwara pleasure district, printed in close-up with minimal background. Before Utamaro, bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) showed groups of figures in full length. He isolated the face, the tilt of the head, the expression. The prints are psychologically specific in a way that had not existed in Japanese printmaking.
He also published books of insect studies and volumes of shunga (erotica), and he made portraits of ordinary town women, not just courtesans. Ohisa and Okita, two shopgirls who appeared in his Three Beauties of the Present Day, became famous across Edo because of his prints. He turned real people into celebrities, which may be the first documented instance of an artist functioning as a kind of media platform.
Tsutaya Juzaburo died in 1797. Utamaro was reportedly devastated. Some critics feel his work never reached the same level afterward. He produced over two thousand prints in his career.
Why Choose Us ?
Damage-free delivery guarantee
Fast Shipping
Museum-Quality Materials
You May Also Like