Hiroshige

A deluxe, large-format edition of this beautifully illustrated introduction to Utagawa Hiroshige, thought to be the most successful ukiyo-e artist of Japan's Edo period.

From the author of Hokusai: A Life in Drawing comes an illuminating account of Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), the last great artist of the ukiyo-e tradition. Ukiyo-e, meaning ‘images of the floating world', was a ubiquitous genre of Japanese woodblock prints during Japan's Edo period, often depicting popular actors, sumo wrestlers, beautiful women and majestic landscapes. Hiroshige's serene, atmospheric prints stood out from his predecessors, capturing the essence of the world around him, and eventually gained widespread acclaim in Europe and America, influencing western European artists like Manet, Monet and van Gogh.

This book offers a fascinating look at Hiroshige's life and work, tracing the journey of a fire warden who turned to printmaking later in life.