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.

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Hiroshige's Famous Print Series

Hiroshige produced over 8,000 works. The work includes common ukiyo-e themes such as women (bijin-ga), actors (yakusha-e), and historical events, but landscapes comprised the largest proportion of his prints. Below are three of his most famous landscape print series so you can appreciate his creative genius. 

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

We have over 100 original prints available by ukiyo-e master Utagawa Hiroshige. Below are a few of our favorites. We encourage you to compare our pricing with similar prints from other galleries.

Some of Our Favorite Prints in Stock

Example product title

$19.99 USD
$19.99 USD
Hiroshige - Cotton-Goods Lane

Hiroshige - Cotton-Goods Lane

Hiroshige - Cotton-Goods Lane

$1,680.00 USD
$1,680.00 USD
Hiroshige - Famous Places in the Sixty-Odd Provinces

Hiroshige - Famous Places in the Sixty-Odd Provinces

Sold out

Hiroshige - Famous Places in the Sixty-Odd Provinces

$1,650.00 USD
$1,650.00 USD
Sold out

Hiroshige Woodblock Prints

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Hiroshige Videos

  • Who Was Utagawa Hiroshige?

    Join me as we uncover Hiroshige's background, artistic style, and most popular woodblock print series, like the Tokaido, and others.

    Watch On YouTube 

  • The 3 Hiroshiges

    Explore the Hiroshige lineage, background and styles of the original master Utagawa Hiroshige, and his top students.

    Watch On YouTube 

  • Hiroshige VS Kawase Hasui

    In this video we compare and contrast the styles of Kawase Hasui and Utagawa Hiroshige, two amazing landscape artists. Which is your favorite?

    Watch On YouTube 

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