HIROSHIGE

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) was one of the last great artists in the Japanese ukiyo-e tradition. Ukiyo-e , literally translated as "images of a floating world," was a very specific artistic genre of woodblock printing that flourished between the 17th and 19th centuries. Illustrated subjects ranged from the bright lights and attractions of Edo (present-day Tokyo) to spectacular natural landscapes.

In the West, Hiroshige's prints became synonymous with the Japonism that prevailed throughout Europe and came to define the visual idea of Japan in the Western world . Being mass-produced, ukiyo-e works were often used in fan prints, postcards, and editorial illustrations. This style influenced Impressionist, Post- Impressionist, and Art Nouveau artists alike, such as Vincent Van Gogh and James McNeill Whistler , who were particularly inspired by Hiroshige's landscapes.

This introductory book unfolds key images from Hiroshige's vivid catalog of cherry blossoms, beauties, kabuki actors, and bustling shopping streets, introducing us to one of the greatest exponents of Asian art history.