Collection: Three Friends of Winter Japanese Prints exhibition catalogue

The Three Friends of Winter represent pine, bamboo and plum. In Japan this is particularly associated with the start of a new year. They are also sometimes used as a three-tier ranking system. In this context, the pine (matsu, 松) usually is the highest rank, followed by bamboo (take, 竹) as the middle rank, and plum (ume, 梅) as the lowest. There are some wonderful prints in the exhibition including the exceptional print by Hiroshige titled "Plum Blossoms at Kameido Shrine."  

All prints with the exception of the Scroll are mounted and or framed as specified. The exhibition will be on view in the Print Department until Sotheran's leave Sackville Street towards the end of March.