by Ogata Gekko
From Gekkō's [bijin-ga](/glossary/bijin-ga) series pairing beautiful women with seasonal blossoms, this print presents a female figure alongside ume (plum) branches in early bloom. Within the Bijin hana kurabe series, each design aligns a specific woman with a flower whose symbolic qualities echo her character or mood. Plum blossoms carry associations of resilience and early spring renewal — the tree flowers before its leaves emerge, often while snow still dusts the ground — making them a fitting pairing for a woman of quiet strength or refinement. Gekkō's bijin-ga work draws on both the Utagawa lineage and his own self-taught brushwork, producing figures with expressive faces and carefully observed textile patterns. Kimono folds would be rendered with multiple woodblocks to achieve layered colors and textile textures, while delicate [bokashi](/glossary/bokashi) gradations in the background evoke atmospheric depth. The print format is likely ōban vertical, standard for the series, printed on [washi](/glossary/washi) with dense pigment application consistent with Meiji commercial [nishiki-e](/glossary/nishiki-e) production.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Plum Blossoms (Ume no hana), from the series Beauties Matched with Flowers (Bijin hana kurabe) was created by Ogata Gekko (尾形月耕).
Yes — Plum Blossoms (Ume no hana), from the series Beauties Matched with Flowers (Bijin hana kurabe) is part of the Beauties Matched with Flowers series by Ogata Gekko.
Plum Blossoms (Ume no hana), from the series Beauties Matched with Flowers (Bijin hana kurabe) depicts bijin-ga.
