Art Prints

The camellia, popular among samurai, was a symbol of a noble death. Ogawa Kazumasa (1860-1929) is renowned for his pioneering work in photography d...

Chinese silk embroidery with gold threads, portrays a five clawed dragon - the quintessential symbol of imperial power. Depicted with a flaming pea...

From the 14th century, blue and white decorations became extremely popular on Chinese porcelain as the cobalt, the blue pigment, started to be impo...

The morning glory flower was first discovered in China for its medicinal uses and was later introduced to the Japanese who were the first to cultiv...

Measuring 606km2, the city of Chicago’s motto “urbs in horto” (city in a garden) adopted in the 1830s is for the impressive and historic park syste...

The poetess Ono no Komachi is considered one of the best waka poets of the Heian Period (794- 1185). She is also praised for her beauty: today, “ko...

Print from the series “Eight Contemporary Poems of Love” by Utamaro Kitagawa (c.1753-1806). This artist is considered one of the masters of Japanes...

The 'Green Houses', or the pleasure houses, with the notable courtesans, became an integral part of Japanese life in the Edo period. “A Mirror of B...

The 'Green Houses', or the pleasure houses, with the notable courtesans, became an integral part of Japanese life in the Edo period. “A Mirror of B...

It is said that a koi carp swims up rivers and climbs waterfalls. The Japanese associates koi carps with perseverance in adversity, strength of pur...

The plum blossom expresses enduring happiness. Used as a congratulatory symbol of good luck, it represents strength, resilience, beauty and longevity.

The peacock is a symbol of beauty, prosperity, love, compassion and piece. The blooming of cherry blossoms remind us to fully enjoy and cherish eve...

The heron is appreciated as an auspicious symbol in many cultures. In China, the heron symbolises strength, purity, patience and long life.

The virtues attributed to the rooster include courage and honour. The rooster cries were also believed to be effective in warding off evil spirits ...

According to Japanese folklore, the carrion crow was thought to be a messenger of the gods. Crows are known for their intelligence, and are associa...

The way cats wash their faces licking their paws and wiping their face - it is as if they are inviting good luck beckoning with their paw. Cats wit...

Ducks symbolise protection, adaptability, emotional strength and the gift of intuition. They represent the importance of living in the present mome...

Ducks symbolise protection, adaptability, emotional strength and the gift of intuition. They represent the importance of living in the present mome...

The artist Koson Ohara was a Japanese painter and printmaker in the late 19th and early 20th century. With some 500 works to his name, he was the m...

The snow scene is by the Japanese woodblock print master, Utagawa Hiroshige. A snowscape offers a hint of new beginnings - whether it be a plum blo...

Oil paper umbrellas originated in China and spread across the Far East. Since the umbrella opens into a full round shape, they represent happiness ...

Pictures of Beautiful Women was a series of prints which sought to represent the individuality of women. Titled as the “fickle type”, the beauty is...

In this scene, Hokusai depicts the ghost of the servant Okiku rising from a well. Falsely accused and thrown to her death, she returns nightly to c...

Portrait of samurai Saito Toshimitsu, who was the general in the army of Akechi Mitsuhide, depicted here in full armour on horseback.

Hokusai wrote “...when I reach 80 years, I hope to have made increasing progress, and at 90 to see further into the underlying principles of things...

During his final years, Hokusai was in dire financial straits and was invited to move to Obuse by his benefactor. One work was a commission to pain...

The snow symbolises cleansing, creating a blanket that can be a new, clean beginning. Hiroshige, considered to be one of the greatest 19th century ...

Nihonbashi is now a business district in Tokyo and the stone bridge built in 1911 still stands at the same site today. These various wooden bridges...

The crane has long been seen as a symbol of longevity and good fortune as it was thought to have a life span of a thousand years. Cranes are also m...

The movement of water contrasted against the solid rocks symbolizes yin and yang- the harmony of life. The drops of water are renewed each second, ...

The blooming of cherry blossoms is a symbol of purity. Their spectacular bloom is enjoyed by many, but for a short period of time every year, remin...

Elegant restaurants (pictured north of the bridge) traditionally co-sponsored the major firework displays at the site, together with the boathouses...

The butterflies appear to dance as they flitter, and represent the ability to adapt, to grow, through the ever-changing stages in our lives. Design...

The lotus flower is revered for its ability to rise from the murky waters to bloom into a magnificent flower. This process symbolises enlightenment...

The iris is associated with faith, hope, valour and wisdom, believed in Japan to be a symbol that purifies evil energies whilst offering protection.

The name Nandina (also known as heavenly bamboo or sacred bamboo in Japan and China) with sprays of bright red berries and evergreen leaves, is use...