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

"Japanese Cherry Blossoms (1837)" is an exquisite vintage woodblock print by the renowned Edo-period artist Utagawa Hiroshige. Characteristic of Hiroshige's compositions, the artwork wonderfully captures the ephemeral beauty of cherry blossoms, a profound symbol of transient beauty and the impermanence of life in Japanese culture.

The print likely showcases a serene landscape, possibly integrating both foreground and background elements that exhibit the natural beauty typical of Hiroshige's style. The blossoms are rendered with a delicate touch, achieving a soft, ethereal quality. They might appear against a backdrop of a clear sky or elegantly juxtaposed with architectural elements like pagodas or bridges, suggesting a tranquil village or countryside scene. Hiroshige often employed a rich yet subtle color palette, and in this piece, one can imagine the delicate pinks and whites of the cherry blossoms highlighted against deeper earth tones and blues. Furthermore, such prints frequently depict figures, which could include men and women donned in traditional attire, engaging in hanami (flower viewing), a popular activity.

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858) was a master of the ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating world," genre. He became celebrated for his keen eye for landscapes and innovative composition techniques. Hiroshige's work is often marked by serene beauty and lyrical quality intertwined with everyday scenes, earning him a respected place in the canon of Japanese art.

The "Japanese Cherry Blossoms" print might be part of a series or intended as a single work capturing the seasonal beauty integral to Japanese aesthetics. Hiroshige produced numerous series dedicated to landscapes, with "The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido" and "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo" serving as exemplary milestones in his career.

In his era, Hiroshige was part of the Edo period (1603–1868), a time when urban culture in Japan was blooming, and there was high demand for ukiyo-e prints. His works vividly document daily life and nature, deeply influencing Western art, especially the Impressionists, as they were introduced to Europe during the Japonisme craze in the 19th century.

Original works by Hiroshige, including similar cherry blossom prints, are often housed in major museums worldwide, such as the Tokyo National Museum or the British Museum. Individual prints might also reside in private collections or specialized institutions focusing on Asian art. Given the historic importance of Hiroshige's work, such pieces continue to be celebrated for their artistic and cultural significance.

This specific print of cherry blossoms is a testament to Hiroshige's enduring legacy, emphasizing the harmony and beauty inherent in Japanese tradition while subtly embodying philosophical undercurrents of life’s fleeting nature.