{"product_id":"picture-book-of-flowers-of-the-four-seasons-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"Picture Book of Flowers of the Four Seasons - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA museum-grade print of the original 1801 cover for Kitagawa Utamaro's 'Picture Book of Flowers of the Four Seasons', showcasing traditional Japanese bookbinding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis item represents the cover of the first volume of 'Ehon shiki no hana' (Picture Book of Flowers of the Four Seasons), a publication by the Japanese artist Kitagawa Utamaro. Published in 1801, this work demonstrates the intersection of botanical observation and the refined aesthetic traditions of the Edo period. The cover itself displays the characteristic physical properties of a traditional Japanese woodblock-printed book, including the visible paper texture and the distinctive side-stitched binding method, known as fukuro-toji.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUtamaro is widely recognised for his contributions to the ukiyo-e genre, particularly his portraits of women. However, his output also included significant botanical studies. This publication reflects the period interest in nature and the seasonal cycles, which were central to Japanese cultural life. The cover features a contemporary archival label, providing documentation of its provenance and classification as a two-volume set. The muted, aged appearance of the paper provides a tactile sense of history, preserving the material reality of early nineteenth-century Japanese printing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a museum-grade fine art print, this reproduction captures the subtle variations in the paper surface and the historical markings present on the original cover. It offers a view into the archival preservation of Japanese illustrated books. The design is understated, focusing on the functional beauty of the book as an object. By presenting this cover, we provide an opportunity to appreciate the material culture of the Edo period, where the presentation of a book was as considered as its contents. This print is suitable for those interested in the history of printing, Japanese art, or the aesthetic of wabi-sabi, where the beauty of age and wear is celebrated.\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\/the-actor-segawa-kikunojo-ii-as-the-courtesan-umegae-suzuki-harunobu\" 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 Actor Segawa Kikunojo II as the Courtesan Umegae - Suzuki Harunobu — Suzuki Harunobu\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/mountains-and-rivers-along-the-kisokaido-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;\"\u003eMountains and Rivers Along the Kisokaidō - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\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":58986080371023,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58986085777743,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58986085810511,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58986085843279,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58986085876047,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58986085908815,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58986085941583,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58986085974351,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58986086007119,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58986086039887,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58986086072655,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58986086105423,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Picture-Book-of-Flowers-of-the-Four-Seasons_Poster_CompositorV1_1790942966895.jpg?v=1790943962","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/picture-book-of-flowers-of-the-four-seasons-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}