Born in Edo as Tokutaro Ando, Utagawa Hiroshige (also known as Andō Hiroshige) grew up in a minor samurai family. His father belonged to the firefighting force assigned to Edo Castle. It is here that Hiroshige was given his first exposure to art: legend has it that a fellow fireman tutored him in the Kano school of painting, though Hiroshige’s first official teacher was Rinsai.
Though Hiroshige tried to join Utagawa Toyokuni's studio, he was turned away. In 1811, young Hiroshige entered an apprenticeship with the celebrated Utagawa Toyohiro. After only a year, he was bestowed with the artist name Hiroshige. He soon gave up his role in the fire department to focus entirely on painting and print design. During this time he studied painting, intrigued by the Shijo school. Hiroshige’s artistic genius went largely unnoticed until 1832.
In Hiroshige's groundbreaking series of Japanese woodblock prints, The “53 Stations of the Tokaido” (1832–33), he captured the journey along the Tokaido road, the highway connecting Edo to Kyoto, the imperial capital. With the Tokugawa Shogunate relaxing centuries of age-old restrictions on travel, urban populations embraced travel art and Hiroshige became one of the most prominent and successful ukiyo-e artists. He also produced kacho-e (bird-and-flower pictures) to enormous success. In 1858, at the age of 61, he passed away as a result of the Edo cholera epidemic.
Original Hiroshige woodblock prints continue to convey the beauty of Japan and provide insight into the everyday life of its citizens during the Edo period. The appeal of his tender, lyrical landscapes was not restricted to the Japanese audience. Hiroshige’s work had a profound influence on the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists of Europe: Toulouse-Lautrec was fascinated with Hiroshige’s daring diagonal compositions and inventive use of perspective, while Van Gogh literally copied two of Hiroshige's prints from the famous series, “100 Famous Views of Edo” in oil paint.
Find original Utagawa Hiroshige prints and other art for sale on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by Robert Azensky Fine Art)
Hiroshige (1797-1858) - Ueno Yamashita
By Utagawa Hiroshige (Ando Hiroshige)
Located in BRUCE, ACT
Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige (Hiroshige Ando 1797-1858) Title: No.12 Ueno Yamashita Series: One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (名所江戸百景) Size: O-ban 大判 Age: 1858 Fine impression, colo...
Woodcut
Hiroshige (1797-1858) - Haneda ferry and Benten Shrine
By Utagawa Hiroshige (Ando Hiroshige)
Located in BRUCE, ACT
Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige (Hiroshige Ando 1797-1858) Title: Haneda ferry and Benten Shrine (Haneda no watashi Benton no yashiro) Series: One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (名所江戸百景) ...
Woodcut
Suwa Bluff, Nippori - One Hundred Famous Views of EDO
By Utagawa Hiroshige (Ando Hiroshige)
Located in BRUCE, ACT
Artist: 広重 Utagawa Hiroshige (Ando Hiroshige) Title: Suwa Bluff, Nippori (Meisho Edo hyakkei: Nippori, Suwa-no-dai) Series: One Hundred Famous Views of Edo Size: O-ban 大判 Age: 1857 ...
Woodcut
Minowa, Kanasugi and Mikawashima - One Hundred Famous Views of EDO 名所江戸百景
By Utagawa Hiroshige (Ando Hiroshige)
Located in BRUCE, ACT
Artist: 広重 Utagawa Hiroshige (Ando Hiroshige) Title: Minowa, Kanasugi and Mikawashima (蓑輪金杉三河しま, Minowa Kanasugi Mikawashima) Series: One Hundred Famous Views of EDO (名所江戸百景) Size...
Woodcut
Iwami Province, Mount Takatsu, Salt Beach - Famous Places in the 60-odd Province
By Utagawa Hiroshige (Ando Hiroshige)
Located in BRUCE, ACT
Artist: 広重 Utagawa Hiroshige (Ando Hiroshige) Title: Iwami Province, Mount Takatsu, Salt Beach Series: Famous Places in the 60-odd Provinces Size: O-ban 大判 Age: 1853 Publisher: Kos...
Woodcut
Hiroshige (1797-1858) - View of Kasumigaseki (Kasumigaseki no zu) 東都名所
By Utagawa Hiroshige (Ando Hiroshige)
Located in BRUCE, ACT
Artist: 広重 Hiroshige (1797-1858) Series: Famous Places in the Eastern Capital (Tôto meisho) (東都名所) Title: View of Kasumigaseki (Kasumigaseki no zu) 霞がせきの図 Size: O-ban 大判 24.2 x 36...
Woodcut
'Shichiri Ferry', After Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川廣重, Ukiyo-e Woodblock, Tokaido
By Utagawa Hiroshige (Ando Hiroshige)
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
An ink on paper, Nishiki-e and Yoko-e woodblock landscape showing a view of two boats off the coast of Kuwana. Signed in Kanji upper right, "Hiroshige Ga" for Utagawa (Ando) Hiroshig...
Sumi Ink, Washi Paper
'View of Futakawa', After Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川廣重, Ukiyo-e Woodblock, Tokaido
By Utagawa Hiroshige (Ando Hiroshige)
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
An ink on paper, Nishiki-e and Yoko-e woodblock landscape showing a view of the Sarugababa (Monkey Plateau) rest stop at Futakawa, circa 1850. Signed in Kanji lower right, "Hiroshige...
Sumi Ink, Washi Paper
'View of Mitsuke', After Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川廣重, Ukiyo-e Woodblock, Tokaido
By Utagawa Hiroshige (Ando Hiroshige)
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
An ink on paper, Nishiki-e and Yoko-e woodblock landscape showing a view of travelers on the Tenryū River, circa 1850. Signed in Kanji center right, "Hiroshige Ga" for Utagawa (Ando)...
Sumi Ink, Washi Paper
Boatmen-Eight Scenic Spots Along Sumida River After U. Hiroshige-20th Century
By Utagawa Hiroshige
Located in Roma, IT
Boatmen - Eight Scenic Spots Along Sumida River is a modern print realized in the Mid-20th Century. Mixed colored lithograph after a woodcut realized by the great Japanese artist Ut...
Lithograph
'A View of Kanagawa', After Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川廣重, Ukiyo-e Woodblock, Tokaido
By Utagawa Hiroshige (Ando Hiroshige)
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
An ink on paper, Nishiki-e and Yoko-e woodblock landscape showing a panoramic view of the banks of Kanagawa, circa 1850. Signed in Kanji upper left, "Hiroshige Ga" for Utagawa (Ando) Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797-1858) and printed circa 1946 by Gihachiro Okuyama (1907-1981). An exceptionally crisp image with fresh color, printed on traditional Washi paper and showing delicate bokashi gradation of sumi ink in the foreground, horizon and upper sky. Sheet Dimensions: 10.25 H x 15.25 W inches. Travelers pass through a section of the Kanagawa post station, dominated by a variety of shops, each with views looking out over the water. A number are tea houses, outside of which stand waitresses inviting travelers inside. On the water we see several small fishing boats, as well as larger shipping vessels...
Sumi Ink, Washi Paper
'View of Fujisawa', After Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川廣重, Ukiyo-e Woodblock, Tokaido
By Utagawa Hiroshige (Ando Hiroshige)
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
An ink on paper, Nishiki-e and Yoko-e woodblock landscape showing travelers at Fujisawa in Kanagawa Prefecture with a view beyond to Yugyō-ji Temple, circa 1850. Signed in Kanji uppe...
Sumi Ink, Washi Paper
