Poet with Two Pages on the Banks of the Tatsuta - Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Archival giclée
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Description
A classic Ukiyo-e woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, depicting a poet and two attendants observing maple leaves floating on the Tatsuta River.
This woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi depicts a scene from the Hyakunin Isshu, a classical anthology of one hundred poems by one hundred poets. The composition features a poet seated by the Tatsuta River, accompanied by two attendants. The river is filled with floating maple leaves, a visual reference to the famous poem by Ariwara no Narihira, which describes the river as a brocade of autumn colours. Kuniyoshi, a master of the Utagawa school, employs a balanced arrangement that separates the figures from the natural surroundings through clear, defined outlines.
The colour palette relies on the contrast between the muted, earthy tones of the riverbank and the saturated hues of the figures' robes. The poet wears a deep purple garment, while the attendants are dressed in dark green and bright red, creating a visual hierarchy that draws the eye across the frame. The water is rendered with rhythmic, flowing lines that suggest movement, while the maple leaves are distributed across the surface to create a sense of depth and seasonal atmosphere. The inclusion of the poem in the upper right corner, framed within a decorative cartouche, is a standard feature of this series, integrating text and image into a unified design.
Kuniyoshi was known for his technical skill in woodblock printing, particularly in his ability to capture narrative tension and atmospheric detail. This work demonstrates his capacity to translate classical literature into visual form, maintaining a clear distinction between the human subjects and the natural environment. The print reflects the aesthetic values of the Edo period, where the appreciation of seasonal change and classical poetry remained central to artistic production. The use of flat colour planes and calligraphic line work is characteristic of the Ukiyo-e tradition, providing a clear view of the artist's approach to composition and narrative clarity.
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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.
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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
Poet with Two Pages on the Banks of the Tatsuta - Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Artist Biography
Utagawa Kuniyoshi
For the first thirteen years he struggled. The breakthrough came in 1827 with a commission to illustrate the 108 Heroes of the Suikoden, a Chinese adventure novel. He drew tattooed warriors in dynamic poses that broke out of the frame, the tattoos rendered with a detail that started a fashion in Edo. The series was enormously popular and established him as the leading designer of warrior prints.
He loved cats. His studio was always full of them, and he often worked with a kitten tucked inside his kimono. When a cat died, he sent it to a nearby temple, and he kept a Buddhist altar for his deceased cats at home. Cats appear constantly in his prints: as substitute actors in kabuki scenes, as letter-forms in playful alphabets, as parodies of famous paintings. Government censorship in the 1840s prohibited the depiction of actors and courtesans by name, so Kuniyoshi gave them cat faces, which was technically legal and funnier.
His range was unusual for an ukiyo-e artist. Warriors, landscapes, beautiful women, ghosts, satirical cartoons, cats. He was equally comfortable with the heroic and the absurd, sometimes on the same sheet. His triptych of the giant skeleton spectre, from the tale of Takiyasha the Witch, is one of the most reproduced images in Japanese art.
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