Memorial Portrait of Utagawa Hiroshige by Utagawa Kunisada, 1858.
However, rather than create prints depicting typical Ukiyo-e motifs, Hiroshige developed his own style.
He looked to the everyday experience for inspiration, rendering images of working men and women in urban environments.
Memorial Portrait of Utagawa Hiroshige by Utagawa Kunisada, 1858. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Hiroshiges prints appealed to the masses, as the Japanese public were able to relate to the scenes.
Many of his artworks focused on seasonal weather conditions or festivities that marked a specific time of year.
Still popular today, Hiroshiges woodblock prints offer a lasting record of the bygone Edo period.
“Station of Ōtsu” by Utagawa Hiroshige, c. 1840. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons,CC0 1.0)
Read on to discover 10 facts about the legendary Japanese Ukiyo-e artist, Utagawa Hiroshige.
Station of Otsu by Utagawa Hiroshige, c. 1840.
Then in 1809, when he was 11, his mother died.
“Suijin Shrine and Massaki on the Sumida River.” Part of the series, “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo,” no. 35, 1856. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
His father died several months later, just after his 12th birthday.
Hiroshige became an orphan and had to fend for himself.
Suijin Shrine and Massaki on the Sumida River.
“Teppozu and Tsukiji Honganji Temple.” Part of the series, “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo,” no. 78, 1858. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Part of the series, One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, no.
Those working in the fire service often pursued other hobbies and occupations alongside their civil service job.
Hiroshige took up art, and enrolled under Japanese ukiyo-e artist Toyohiro of the Utagawa school.
“Sudden Shower over Shin-Ōhashi Bridge and Atake.” Part of the series, “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo,” no. 52 or 58, 1857. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Hiroshige also studied at Kano school, one of the most famous schools of Japanese painting.
He achieved the subtle variation in hue using the ukiyo-ebokashitechnique.
This involved using a brush to apply ink in multiple colors to different sections of a moistened printing block.
“Hodogaya (Shinkame Bridge),” in “The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō (Road) (Tōkaidō Gojūsan-tsugi no uchi),” c. 1834 (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
The ink bleeds across the wet area, creating a soft gradation when printed on paper.
Teppozu and Tsukiji Honganji Temple.
Part of the series, One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, no.
Part of the series “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo,” no. 008 , part 1: Spring, 1856 (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
French ImpressionistsEdouard ManetandClaude Monetwere known as fans of his work.
His earliest prints depicted common ukiyo-e themes such as women and actors.
However, in 1831 he began focusing on landscape art.
Sudden Shower over Shin-Ohashi Bridge and Atake.
Part of the series, One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, no.
52 or 58, 1857.
When he returned home, the artist immediately began work on the first prints from the series.
He presented the landscape prints to publishing houses, and they soon became some of his best-selling works.
The success ofThe Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaidoseries established Hiroshige as the most successful printmaker of the time.
The finished series was published between 185659 and was hugely popular.
Part of the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, no.
He earned only around twice the salary of a laborer.
Some people believe this is why he produced so many artworks.
He died two years later in his early 60s and was buried in a Zen Buddhist temple.
I shall see the famous places in the Western Land.
