Eight Shadow Figures by Utagawa Hiroshige, 1842 - Postcard

Eight Shadow Figures by Utagawa Hiroshige - 1842.

Order a print of this wonderful picture is here.

"The three prints in Hiroshige's New Edition of Shadow Making series were probably considered omocha-e (toy pictures) intended for children. Creating shadows through hand gestures was a common pastime for children, and such pictures would have helped them build their repertoire. The eight patterns presented here (clockwise from upper right) are a turtle on a rock, a man wearing a Chinese-style hat, a rabbit, a shachihoko (a legendary creature with the head of a dragon and the body of a dolphin), an owl, a fox, a snail and a crow. Three include written instructions on how to make the shadows move: "open your fingers within your sleeve to move the owl's wings," "draw up your knee for the fox's back," "move the chopsticks up and down [snail]." - The Minneapolis Institute of Art

Our high quality custom postcards are produced on recyclable, sustainably sourced card. Each card comes with an envelope, allowing you keep or gift as smaller artworks for a mantlepiece, fridge or wall.

Our postcards are printed on thick 324gsm Mohawk card.

Postcards are available in 6 inches x 4 inches.

Printing method: Giclée

Eco credentials: Water-based inks.

Printed using water based inks.

Sustainably sourced paper or wood From FSC-approved forests.

Plastic-free: Contains no plastic.