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

"Macaw on Pine Branch" by Utagawa Hiroshige (also known as Ando Hiroshige) presents a harmonious and vibrant illustration rich in the tradition of Ukiyo-e, the art movement characterized by "pictures of the floating world." The painting renders a macaw, boasting vivid hues of red, yellow, blue, and green, perched upon the graceful and curving extensions of a pine tree branch. The transformation of the bird’s brilliant plumage as it catches the light is organic, capturing both its exotic allure and intricate detailing that Hiroshige is renowned for.

The macaw itself is rendered with attention to its textured feathers, lifelike posture, and curious gaze, all of which contribute to a sense of delicate realism infused with contemplative beauty. The pine branch, with its robust, twisting form and perfectly placed needles, invokes a sense of Japanese tradition, embodying enduring strength and resilience. The background is kept minimalistic, possibly featuring a subtle gradient from sky blue to a pale white, allowing the viewer to focus entirely on the natural symphony created by the macaw and the pine.

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) was one of the greatest masters of the Ukiyo-e school of art in the Edo period. Known primarily for his landscapes and images of birds and flowers, Hiroshige's work predominantly embodies the transitory aspects of nature’s beauty, infused with a sense of poetic melancholy known as mono no aware.

Ukiyo-e traditionally captured the fleeting moments of beauty in everyday life, ranging from landscapes to scenes of domestic life and, as demonstrated in this artwork, finely detailed natural subjects. "Macaw on Pine Branch" is a part of Hiroshige’s broader oeuvre that showcases his fascination with and mastery of Kacho-ga (bird-and-flower painting). His approach serves to elevate the natural world to a realm of aesthetic contemplation and intrinsic honor.

The exact whereabouts of the original "Macaw on Pine Branch" by Utagawa Hiroshige is often within private collections or specialized exhibitions dedicated to Ukiyo-e. However, similar works by Hiroshige can frequently be found in significant collections such as the Tokugawa Art Museum in Nagoya, Japan, and the Tokyo National Museum.

- Technique: Hiroshige's woodblock printing technique captures the macaw with an intricate blend of bold lines and subtle gradations of color, creating both depth and dynamism.
- Cultural Symbiosis: The fusion of an exotic macaw against the deeply traditional Japanese pine tree branch represents a cultural amalgamation, suggestive of global curiosity and widened perspectives during the Edo period.
- Symbolism: The macaw, an exotic species removed from its native environment and showcased in a Japanese context, might hint at the broader narratives of exploration, curiosity, and the appreciation of diverse natural beauty.
- Composition: The composition balances dynamism with tranquility; the bold colors of the macaw contrast with the restrained elegance of the pine branch, thus imbuing the scene with balanced energy.

Hiroshige’s "Macaw on Pine Branch" masterfully bridges the natural world with the refined aesthetic sensibilities of Edo-period Japan, embodying the quiet yet potent beauty of the Ukiyo-e genre.