Minamoto no Shigeyuki: Okiku and the Broken Plates - Utagawa Hiroshige
Archival giclée
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Description
A narrative woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige from the series Ogura Imitations of the Hundred Poets. It depicts the legend of Okiku and the broken ceramic plates.
This woodblock print is part of the series Ogura Nazorae Hyakunin Isshu, produced between 1845 and 1848. The series was a collaborative project involving Utagawa Hiroshige and his contemporaries. Each print pairs a poem from the classical Ogura Hyakunin Isshu anthology with a scene from Japanese history and folklore.
The upper register contains a poem by Minamoto no Shigeyuki, written in calligraphic script against a background of horizontal orange stripes. Below this, the main illustration depicts the figure of Okiku. She was a servant in the household of a samurai named Aoyama Tessan. According to the legend, she was responsible for ten ceramic plates. When one plate was broken, she was punished, leading to her death and her return as a spirit.
Hiroshige depicts the moment of discovery. Okiku kneels on the floor, her gaze fixed on the stack of blue and white ceramic dishes. Several shards lie scattered on the ground beside her. A second woman stands behind her, gesturing with one hand. The kimonos feature complex geometric and floral patterns. Okiku wears a purple garment decorated with pink chrysanthemums, while the standing figure wears a blue robe with a star-like pattern. The composition uses flat areas of colour and bold outlines. The use of space focuses the viewer on the tension of the scene.
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.
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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
Minamoto no Shigeyuki: Okiku and the Broken Plates - Utagawa Hiroshige
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