Back to the classics for the New Year print for 2011. What we see here is a trimmed portion of a design by Hiroshige, from the very extensive series of kacho-ga ('flower-bird') prints that were published in tan-zaku size during his lifetime.

These prints must have been hugely popular, because the publishers kept asking him for more and more of them, and they are now found in museum collections around the world. (Even here these days in our Mokuhankan shop in Asakusa, reproduction of those prints are perennial best-sellers, and we can never keep enough of them in stock.)

I think I might have selected this one thinking that - because of the restricted number of impressions - it would be 'easy' to produce the large number of copies I need, but I short-changed myself. That deep blue background is difficult, one of the toughest jobs for any printer, whether experienced or beginner. Do you need to lose weight? Step right up, we have just the work for you ...