Created from high-quality wood, milled with simple clean lines and presented with a satin finish. Includes an off-white mount that will not discolour or fade with age. - Simple, elegant design - Premium, fine art paper with a gently textured surface - Handmade by specialist picture framers - FSC certified off-white mat / window mount - Delivered ready for hanging

"The ukiyo-e illustration, Camellia and Nightingale" is a quintessential example of Utagawa Hiroshige's masterful ability to capture the delicate beauty of Japanese flora and fauna. The painting prominently features a nightingale (uguisu) perched on a blooming branch of camellia (tsubaki). The bird, with its soft, olive-brown plumage and piercing black eyes, is depicted in a moment of serene grace, perhaps about to sing its melodious song. Its delicate claws grip the gnarled branch with an almost tangible reality.

The camellia branch is vibrant, with petals painted in a striking red-pink hue, their lush green leaves providing a rich contrast. Hiroshige's adept use of color and texture is evident in the rendering of the flowers and leaves, which appear almost three-dimensional. The composition is clean and uncluttered, embodying the Japanese aesthetic principle of 'ma,' or the beauty of empty space, which allows each element to breathe and be appreciated.

The background of the painting is a minimalist, pale wash, which helps to accentuate the vivid colors of the camellia and the bird. This use of negative space is characteristic of Hiroshige's work, emphasizing the central subjects without distraction.

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) is one of Japan's most revered ukiyo-e artists, renowned for his landscapes and depictions of nature. He emerged during the late Edo period and is often mentioned alongside Katsushika Hokusai, another giant of the ukiyo-e genre. Hiroshige's works typically exhibit a lyrical, almost poetic quality that distinguishes them from Hokusai's more dramatic compositions.

Hiroshige's art was deeply influenced by his environment and the cultural context of the Edo period, a time when Japan was experiencing relative peace and isolation under the Tokugawa shogunate. This allowed for a flourishing of the arts, and ukiyo-e (literally "pictures of the floating world") became a popular form of artistic expression. Ukiyo-e prints, which were widely accessible, often portrayed scenes of daily life, landscapes, flora, and fauna, providing a visual narrative of the era.

"The ukiyo-e illustration, Camellia and Nightingale" fits beautifully into Hiroshige's oeuvre, highlighting his fascination with nature and his skill in capturing its ephemeral beauty. While Hiroshige is best known for his series of landscape prints such as "The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō" and "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo," his botanical and animal illustrations showcase his versatility and keen observational ability.

This painting reflects the ukiyo-e tradition of Kachō-ga (bird-and-flower painting), a genre that Hiroshige excelled in alongside his landscapes. Kachō-ga was a way for artists to explore the intricate details of nature, imbuing their subjects with a sense of life and vitality.

Many of Hiroshige's original prints and paintings are housed in prestigious museums around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the British Museum in London, and the Tokyo National Museum. Specific to "The ukiyo-e illustration, Camellia and Nightingale," the location of the original may vary as these works might be part of private collections or rotating exhibits in different institutions.

An important detail to note is that Hiroshige’s prints were often produced in series, making each individual piece part of a larger narrative or thematic exploration. This particular illustration likely belongs to a series focused on bird-and-flower compositions, demonstrating the harmonious relationship between flora and fauna in Japanese culture.

"The ukiyo-e illustration, Camellia and Nightingale" by Utagawa Hiroshige is a masterful representation of the artist's adoration for nature and his skill in rendering its beauty through the ukiyo-e technique. The painting’s composition, use of color, and attention to detail serve as a testament to Hiroshige's legacy as one of Japan’s greatest artists. The artwork is not merely a visual delight but also a cultural artifact that provides insight into the aesthetics and sensibilities of the Edo period.