Hiroshige

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) was one of the last great artists in the ukiyo-e tradition. Literally meaning 'pictures of the floating world', ukiyo-e refers to the famous Japanese woodblock print genre that originated in the 17th century and is practically synonymous with the Western world's visual characterization of Japan. Though Hiroshige captured a variety of subjects, his greatest talent was in creating landscapes of his native Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and his most famous work was a series known as '100 Famous Views of Edo' (1856 - 1858). This book provides an introduction to his work and an overview of his career.

Publisher Marketing: Orient expressed: The master of Japanese ukiyo-e Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) was one of the last great artists in the ukiyo-e tradition. Subjects ranged from the bright lights and attractions of Edo (modern-day Tokyo), to spectacular natural landscapes. In the West, Hiroshige's prints became exemplary of the Japonisme that swept through Europe and defined the Western world visual idea of Japan. Because they could be mass produced, ukiyo-e works were often used as designs for fans, greeting cards, and book illustrations. The style influenced Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and Art Nouveau artists alike, with Vincent van Gogh and James McNeill Whistler both particularly inspired by Hiroshige's landscapes.This introductory book presents key images from Hiroshige's vibrant, vivid portfolio of blooming cherry trees, beautiful women, kabuki actors, and busy shopping streets to introduce one of the greats of Asian art history.

About the Series: Each book in TASCHEN's Basic Art series features: a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist, covering his or her cultural and historical importance a concise biography approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions "

Contributor Bio: Schlombs, Adele. Adele Schlombs studied sinology, East Asian art history, European art history, and comparative religious studies at Cologne and Heidelberg Universities. From 1984 to 1987 she studied at Kyoto University and gained her doctorate in 1989 at Heidelberg University. In 1991, she took over the directorship of the Museum of East Asian Art in Cologne and since then she has organized numerous loan exhibitions of Japanese and Chinese art.