Utagawa Hiroshige
Hiroshige was born in 1797. He was of a samurai background. He inherited his father’s fire warden position when he was twelve years old. At around fourteen, Hiroshige began painting under the master Utagawa Toyohiro. He also studied the techniques of the Kanō school, the Chinese Southern School, and the realistic Shijō school, and the linear perspective techniques of Western art. In 1823, he passed his post as fire warden on to his son. In 1832 his print designs for the series “The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō” were immensely popular and cemented his reputation as a master of the Japanese landscape.
We also have prints of his students, Hiroshige II and Hiroshige III. For more information on the 3 Hiroshiges, please watch our YouTube video.
Hiroshige's Famous Print Series
Famous Print Series
Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido
This set of fifty-five prints (including prints for the starting-point at Edo and arrival at Kyoto) was published in 1834. It's also known as the "Hoeido Tokaido"or Great Tokaido. On the left we see the Tokaido station "Mishima"on a misty morning. Sleepy travellers are walking by The torii (gate) of Mishima Taisha shrine in the background. Notice how the mist creates this evocative layered scene.
famous print series
One Hundred Famous Views of Edo
In the last decade of his life, Hiroshige produced 118 prints for the series “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo”. In this series Hiroshige frequently places large-scale objects in the foreground. This device, derived from Western art, adds depth and perspective to the composition.
On the right, we see the print "The Plum Garden in Kameido". This series greatly influenced the French Impressionists.
famous print series
Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji
This series, published in 1858, depicts Mount Fuji in various seasons from a variety of places. Hiroshige’s skill in composing gorgeous scenes that include the natural landscape balanced with the people and society of the time, are evident. In this print on the left of “Sukiyagashi in the Eastern Capital” we see a snowy landscape with the stone walls of Edo castle on the right. The people are barely noticable as they go about their day.
Featured Hiroshige Prints - Available Now
Some of Our Favorite Prints in Stock
Hiroshige - Shops Selling Tororo Soup, A Famous Product of Mariko
Hiroshige - Famous Places of the Eastern Capital
Hiroshige - Famous Places in the Sixty-Odd Provinces
Hiroshige Woodblock Prints
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Hiroshige - Famous Places in the Sixty-Odd Provinces
Regular price $990.00 USDRegular priceUnit price per -
Hiroshige- Edo Meisho - Kanda Myojin Shrine
Regular price $275.00 USDRegular priceUnit price per -
Hiroshige - Ryogoku Bridge and the Great Riverbank
Regular price $385.00 USDRegular priceUnit price per -
Hiroshige - Spiral Hall, Five Hundred Rakan Temple
Regular price $620.00 USDRegular priceUnit price per -
Hiroshige - Yotsuya and Naito Shinjuku
Regular price $720.00 USDRegular priceUnit price per
Hiroshige Videos
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Who Was Utagawa Hiroshige?
Watch On YouTubeJoin me as we uncover Hiroshige's background, artistic style, and most popular woodblock print series, like the Tokaido, and others.
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The 3 Hiroshiges
Watch On YouTubeExplore the Hiroshige lineage, background and styles of the original master Utagawa Hiroshige, and his top students.
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Hiroshige VS Kawase Hasui
Watch On YouTubeIn this video we compare and contrast the styles of Kawase Hasui and Utagawa Hiroshige, two amazing landscape artists. Which is your favorite?
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