Hiroshige "Red Plum Blossoms under the Full Moon"

This is one of Hiroshige’s fan prints (uchiwa-e). Against a deep indigo background, the artist highlights the full moon in white, creating a striking contrast with the pale pink blossoms, the indigo sky, and the dark ink of the withered tree trunk. Together, these colors reflect and complement one another, evoking the clear, refined atmosphere of a moonlit night with the fragrance of plum blossoms in the air.

The artist’s sensitivity is also evident in the details: the opened blossoms are painted in a soft pale pink, while the buds are rendered in a slightly deeper shade, revealing Hiroshige’s careful attention and subtle artistry.

歌川広重「月夜の紅梅」
Utagawa Hiroshige, Tsukiyo no Kōbai

Print Size: H 9" × W 12" / H 23.0 cm × W 31.3 cm
Paper: Echizen Kizuki Hosho Washi made by Living National Treasure, Ichibei Iwano