Plum Branch c. late 18th century

"Plum Branch" is a Japanese woodblock print created by Kitao Shigemasa, a prominent artist of the late 18th century. Shigemasa is known for his elegant and delicate depictions of nature, and this print perfectly captures the beauty of a blossoming plum branch. The piece showcases Shigemasa's masterful use of color and composition, rendering the delicate blooms with precise detail and subtle hues of white and gray. This print is a fine example of the "ukiyo-e" style, which emphasized the transient beauty of everyday life and the natural world, and remains a treasured piece in the collection of The Art Institute of Chicago.