Sumida River Bookmark

A full moon hanging low over the Sumida, its reflection spilling gold across the water, cherry blossom breaking the darkness of a branch above. Almost nothing happens in this image, and that is exactly why it works — it is a picture of a particular quality of light on a particular night.

The print is by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892), widely regarded as the last great master of ukiyo-e, the Japanese woodblock tradition. He worked through the upheaval of Japan's opening to the West, when photography and Western printing were pushing the old craft aside, and produced some of the most inventive prints the form ever saw. The Sumida runs through the heart of Tokyo, and its cherry blossom has drawn crowds for centuries — Yoshitoshi shows it emptied out, quiet, lit only by the moon.

At 48 × 162mm with a blue ribbon marker, it lies flat in any book. A quietly beautiful gift for a lover of Japanese art, a print collector, or anyone whose reading calls for something calm on the page.

Come and see the full Museums & Galleries range in the shop — there's always more on the shelves than we can fit online.

Key features

• Woodblock print detail by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892), the last great master of ukiyo-e
• Moonlight on the Sumida River with cherry blossom
• Blue ribbon marker
• 48mm × 162mm
• Museums & Galleries, the British art-stationery publisher behind the V&A, Tate, Natural History Museum and British Museum ranges
• Flat enough to post inside a greetings card
• Perfect for lovers of Japanese art and prints, and as a book club or stocking-filler gift

FAQ

• Who was Tsukioka Yoshitoshi? A Japanese printmaker (1839–1892), regarded as the last great master of the ukiyo-e woodblock tradition, working as Japan opened to the West.
• What is the Sumida River? A river running through Tokyo, famous for its cherry blossom and a favourite subject of Japanese printmakers.
• What colour is the ribbon? Blue.
• What size is the bookmark? 48mm wide by 162mm tall.
• Is it suitable as a gift? Yes — a beautiful small gift on its own, and light enough to post inside a card.