Ikebana arrangement of Peony and Willow in Dragon Pot

Date:: 1781–1806
Medium:: Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and color on paper
Format:: Oban
Dimensions:: 21.3 × 16.8 cm
Source:: Minneapolis Institute of Art

Typical Price

$3,000–$500,000+. Later impressions and common subjects: $3,000–$10,000. Key value factors: Utamaro's finest works feature mica-ground backgrounds and individualized portraits. Condition of the delicate mica surface dramatically affects value.

Description

"Ikebana arrangement of Peony and Willow in Dragon Pot" is a [ukiyo-e](/glossary/ukiyo-e) nature study by Kitagawa Utamaro, created during the Edo period. This work belongs to the [kacho-e](/glossary/kacho-e) (bird-and-flower) tradition, one of the most celebrated genres in Japanese art.

Kitagawa Utamaro brings characteristic sensitivity to this naturalistic subject, combining precise observation with poetic atmosphere. The composition balances the living subjects with their environment, creating a scene that feels both scientifically accurate and emotionally resonant.

The technical execution reveals the sophisticated printmaking tradition behind this image — from the precise registration of multiple color blocks to the subtle gradations that give depth and luminosity to the natural subjects.

This print represents Kitagawa Utamaro's contribution to the ukiyo-e tradition during the Edo period. As with all works by this artist, it reflects both individual artistic vision and the broader cultural moment in which it was created. For collectors and admirers of Japanese printmaking, it offers a window into the sophisticated aesthetic world that produced some of the most beloved images in art history.