Hiroshige. One Hundred Famous Views of Edo

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858) stands out as one of the final luminaries of the ukiyo-e artistic movement. Ukiyo-e, which translates to “pictures of the floating world,” was a favored art style that thrived from the 17th to the 19th centuries, shaping global perceptions of Japanese imagery. Typically illustrating scenes of hedonistic joy, this genre often highlighted the lively essence of Edo (today's Tokyo) through depictions of enticing women, performers, wrestlers, urban experiences, and stunning natural vistas. Among his varied artistic endeavors, Hiroshige gained acclaim for his landscape portrayals, particularly through his concluding masterpiece series, “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” (1856–1858). These works encapsulated the dynamic essence of the city across different seasons, presenting everything from lively commercial avenues to magnificent cherry blossom gardens. This reissue is based on one of the best-preserved original woodblock print collections, housed in the Ota Memorial Museum of Art in Tokyo. Each of the 120 illustrations is accompanied by a commentary, offering readers a chance to delve into these lush, lively sceneries that not only became iconic representations of Japonisme but also influenced a spectrum of Western artists, including prominent figures of Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and Art Nouveau like Vincent van Gogh and James McNeill Whistler.