Hiroshige: artist of the open road

Utagawa Hiroshige was, with his contemporary Hokusai, one of Japan's greatest artists. He came from a noble but impoverished samurai family in the last decades of the Tokugawa period, one of the most violent and dangerous times in Japanese history.

There is no sign of this turbulence in Hiroshige's work: he used his great skill in drawing and the subtleties of colour to create a peaceful and immersive world. He travelled widely and was especially talented in drawing on location, a rare skill at the time. 

Seba, late 1830s

While Hokusai created stormy scenes and fantastic dramas with his art, Hiroshige created works that radiate serenity and optimism. He depicted a strong connection between the natural world and those who travelled through it.

Ferry on the Fuji River, Suruga Province, c. 1832

Look at a Hiroshige print and it seems like the artist himself has faded into the background: instead of noticing a distinctive style, you feel like you are looking through a window at a beautiful scene. 

Mountains and Streams of the Kiso Road, 1857.

Hiroshige was not only one of Japan's most revered artists, but also one of their most beloved. He captivated his audience by using his skills at colour, composition and observation to pull the viewer into an ideal version of the everyday world.

Yui: Satta Peak and Oyashirazu, 1855.

Links:
Hiroshige

Hokusai

Tokugawa/Edo period