UTAGAWA "ANDO" HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)
Woodblock Print, Untitled
10 1/2" x 15"
Hiroshige was a Japanese artist known for his ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Characterized by unusual perspectives, seasonal references, and striking colors, the artistâ€â„¢s series Fifty-three Stations of the TÃ…ÂkaidÃ…Â (1833â€â€œ1834) exemplifies Hiroshigeâ€â„¢s unique skill. Born AndÃ…Â Hiroshige in 1797 in Edo (present-day Tokyo), Japan, he entered the studio of Utagawa Toyohiro around 1811, and later adopted his masterâ€â„¢s name Utagawa. His student work from this time included book illustrations and prints of young women and kabuki actors. It was not until the 1830s, that Hiroshige found his calling in producing the landscape prints for which he is now known. The artist benefited greatly through having a contemporary in Hokusai, who shared an interest in depicting various qualities of weather and compositional devices. He died on October 12, 1858 in Edo, Japan. The artistâ€â„¢s works had profound impact on a number of European painters, including Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh. Today, Hiroshigeâ€â„¢s works are held in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, and the Tobacco and Salt Museum in Tokyo, among others.

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