Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858)

Hiroshige was born in 1797, the time when Ukiyo-e was at the height of popularity. He was good at painting since his childhood. At fifteen, through introduction of a certain book dealer, he became a pupil of Utagawa Toyohiro, and was given the artist name Utagawa Hiroshige the following year. The essential characteristic of Hiroshige’s art lies in its poetic atmosphere, which in fact is the characteristic of the Japanese heart. When this lyricism is given free play, there is beautiful music in the picture.