'The Plum Garden in Kameido' by Utagawa Hiroshige, 1857. Part of the series 'One Hundred Famous Views of Edo'. This image is also available on:
This print shows the famous 'Sleeping Dragon' plum tree, in full bloom. In the mid-19th century Kameido was still on the eastern outskirts of Edo (Tokyo) and largely farmland, but because of this plum orchard it became a popular attraction for the city-dwellers. The 'Sleeping Dragon' plum tree got its name from the way some of its branches ran along the ground, arching like the coils of a dragon (dragons being an important symbol of good fortune in East Asian culture). It's branches weren't its only distinctive feature, as it's blossoms were said (possibly with some poetic licence) to be so white that they could banish night itself. The original tree died in the 1790s, but because new trunks sprang from its branches it continued growing strong throughout the 19th century, until at one point there were many daughter trees and several hundred others in the orchard, and a teahouse had been built to serve the growing crowds coming from Edo. Sadly, the 'Sleeping Dragon' was killed by a heavy flood in 1910, and the growing city of Tokyo continued to encroach on Kameido until it became one of the most heavily industrialized areas. Although the orchard is gone, a stone pillar and an information board now mark the approximate place where the Sleeping Dragon stood; next to them, a newly-planted plum tree.
This print is interesting not just for immortalizing a beautiful part of Tokyo's history, but for its important influence in European art. After Japan opened up to foreigners in the 1860s, many ukiyo-e prints were exported to Europe, and Hiroshige's were among the most popular. The compositional techniques heavily influenced the Impressionists and the Post-Impressionists. 'The Plum Garden in Kameido', with the striking lines of the trunk and branches dominating the foreground almost like calligraphy strokes, was so significant that Van Gogh produced his own copy in oils, replicating the composition exactly but choosing more vibrant and daring colors, practising techniques he could later apply to his original paintings. Although Van Gogh's work would go on to influence a wide swathe of European art, he went almost unrecognized in his lifetime - appropriately, perhaps, in Japanese the metaphorical meaning of 'Sleeping Dragon' is 'unrecognized genius'.
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Reproduction print available on canvas, poster, framed poster, poster with hanger, or metal. See below for product-specific details.
Canvas:
- Wood frame, sustainably sourced (FSC certified materials).
- 2-3 cm (0.8-1.2") thick frame
- Shipped in protective packaging and strong boxes to ensure no damage during transportation.
- Mounting kit included
- Average Delivery Time: 5 - 7 business days
Poster:
- Museum-quality, long-lasting matte (uncoated) archival paper
- Paper-weight: 250 gsm / 110 lb
- Shipped in sturdy packaging protecting the poster
- Average Delivery Time: 2 - 3 business days
Framed Poster:
- Museum-quality paper with black, white or dark wood frame.
- 200 gsm / 80 lb matte (uncoated) paper
- Lightweight 1-2 cm (0.4-0.8") thick frame
- Shatterproof, transparent plexiglass.
- Includes hanging kit, to hang in both portrait and landscape orientations.
- For indoor use
- Frame and poster are delivered together. The poster needs to be mounted by the end-recipient.
- Average Delivery Time: 4 - 6 business days
Poster with hanger:
- Available in black, white, or dark wood
- Magnetic design holds your poster without damaging it.
- 170 gsm / 65 lb matte (uncoated) paper
- Premium leather cord matches the hanger color.
- The hanger and poster are delivered together. The poster needs to be mounted by the end-recipient.
- Average Delivery Time: 4 - 6 business days
Metallic Print
- Aluminum dibond 3mm with a white coating
- Printed directly onto the aluminum in top grade inks
- Good tonal gradation ensures accurate reproduction
- Matte and glare-free
- Includes a hanging kit
- Average Delivery Time: 5 - 7 business days