Hiroshige (Taschen Basic Art)

By Adele Schlombs

Book Overview

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 was a particular woodblock print genre of art that flourished between the 17th and 19th centuries. 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's 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 Abbott 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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 3836519631
• ISBN13: 9783836519632
• Release Date: March 2016
• Publisher: Taschen
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 1.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.4" x 10.3"

Customer Reviews

Fun Little Volume

Not a bad book to carry around with you here and there. I'm sure it doesn't compare to the more expensive art books on Hiroshige, but those wouldn't be so portable as this one. So, I'm glad I've got it. Quality-wise, the reproductions seem pretty good. I've since looked for JPEGs of some of the paintings and found that the images in the book just looked so much better than the JPEGs, so they must have used high-res photos or even (gasp) film cameras.