vintage japanese shikishi print : firefly

Hotarugari (firefly viewing) is a popular summer pastime in Japan, as depicted here by Kitano Tsunetomi (1880-1947). The ethereal brilliance of the beloved creature is magnified by the striking sky and suspended in the gaze of the woman - a poetic piece to spark the imagination ...

Yokoyama Taikan was a leading figure in the early twentieth century Japanese art world, and this print is from a collection of reproductions of original Japanese artworks presented to him for his 60th birthday, in 1928. What an incredible gift!

Printed on shikishi board - a traditional Japanese art material with subtle flecking and a bevelled edge in gold - these works may be framed or propped, and look spectacular in pairs or as a triptych.