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| Utagawa Hiroshige (1797 – 12 October 1858) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist, considered the last great master of that tradition. Hiroshige is best known for his horizontal-format landscape series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō and for his vertical-format landscape series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo. The subjects of his work were atypical of the ukiyo-e genre, whose typical focus was on beautiful women, popular actors, and other scenes of the urban pleasure districts of Japan's Edo period (1603–1868). Hiroshige's approach was more poetic and ambient than Hokusai's bolder, more formal prints. Subtle use of color was essential in Hiroshige's prints, often printed with multiple impressions in the same area and with extensive use of bokashi (color gradation), both of which were rather labor-intensive techniques. For scholars and collectors, Hiroshige's death marked the beginning of a rapid decline in the ukiyo-e genre, especially in the face of the westernization that followed the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Hiroshige's work came to have a marked influence on western European painting towards the close of the 19th century as a part of the trend in Japonism. Western European artists, such as Manet and Monet, collected and closely studied Hiroshige's compositions: Vincent van Gogh, for instance, painted copies of some Hiroshige prints. |
Biography of a Japanese Art Icon
Utagawa Hiroshige, a renowned Japanese ukiyo-e artist, lived from 1797 to 1858. He is widely regarded as the last great master of this traditional genre. Hiroshige's work is characterized by its poetic and ambient approach, which sets it apart from the bolder, more formal prints of his contemporaries.
Artistic Style and Techniques
Hiroshige's use of color was subtle yet essential to his prints. He often employed multiple impressions in the same area, utilizing the technique of bokashi (color gradation), which was labor-intensive but resulted in a unique visual effect. His most famous works include The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō and One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, both showcasing his mastery of landscape series.
Influence on Western Art
Hiroshige's work had a profound impact on Western art, particularly during the late 19th century Japonisme trend. Artists such as Édouard Manet and Claude Monet were influenced by Japanese prints, while Post-Impressionists like Vincent van Gogh collected and studied Hiroshige's compositions.
Legacy
Following Hiroshige's death in 1858, the ukiyo-e genre experienced a rapid decline due to westernization after the Meiji Restoration of 1868. However, his influence on Western art remains significant, with many artists continuing to draw inspiration from his works.
Notable Works:
* The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō
* One Hundred Famous Views of Edo
* Influence on Vincent van Gogh's Japonaiserie series, including Japonaiserie Flowering Plum Tree after Hiroshige
Key Dates:
* 1797: Born in Japan
* 1858: Passed away, marking the beginning of a rapid decline in the ukiyo-e genre |
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