A courtesan in indigo poses beneath cherry blossoms

Rendered entirely in shades of indigo, a courtesan wears an elaborate headdress of long hairpins beneath a branch of cherry blossoms, her deep-blue kimono patterned with swallows, peonies and swirling clouds. A small attendant in matching blue stands beside her, and a lidded lantern sits at lower left. Text panels at upper left name the courtesan, Hanaogi of the Ogiya, and the print is signed Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi beside a publisher's seal.

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798–1861) brought heroes, monsters and spectacle into the ukiyo-e print. A pupil of Toyokuni, he made his name in 1827 with the series of the One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Suikoden, tattooed warriors caught mid-action, and went on to giant skeletons, cats, whales and satirical puzzles that slipped past the censors. His restless invention influenced Yoshitoshi and, much later, tattoo and manga art. His prints are held by the British Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Printed as a museum-grade giclée on Hahnemühle fine art paper using 12-ink archival pigment printing. Available handframed in FSC-certified wood with optional float glass, or unframed. Ships worldwide with free delivery to 30+ countries.