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Hiroshige Utagawa

Hiroshige Utagawa (歌川広重, 1797 – Oct 12, 1858)
Hiroshige was born in 1797 present in Chuo-ku, Tokyo.
His father was fireman, but he didn't take over his father and he advanced to the way for Eshi (illustrator) after his father dead in 1809, because he had talent for drawing since he was child.
He became a pupil of Toyohiro Utagawa at 15 years old, and he was given his business name Hiroshige Utagawa in 1812.
At the beginning, he drew painting of bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) and yakusha-e (portraits of Kabuki actors). After his master died in 1828, he started to draw landscape pictures.
And, he is getting popular as an Eshi.
"The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido" in the Hoeido edition (1833–1834) has made a great hit, and he drew many landscape pictures of Tokaido which is main road between Edo to Kyoto.
He has also drawn many Kacho-ga (painting of flowers and birds) which excelled in poetic sentiment.
His work is characterized by its realism and poetic atmosphere.
In later years, he drew a big series of "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo" whose scenery of seasonal Edo is well drawn with unique viewpoint and very sensitivity.
This series is famous for Gogh (Vincent van Gogh) copying and influenced Gogh's work.

Suidobashi Bridge and Surugadai

　US$198 each

SIZE : W 25.0 / H 37.0 (cm)

There is a big Koinobori (carp streamer) which was greatly drawn boldly to cover the whole screen exhaustively.
The composition power is outstandingly excellent as it was designed by Hiroshige. In japan at the beginning of May, there is the custom that the house where a boy is seven years or younger displays the Koinobori, and celebrates him. The scenery of the Boy's Festival was drawn on this work.

Kuwana - The Seven League Ferry 　US$198 each

SIZE : W 37.0 / H 26.5 (cm)

In the Edo period, in Tokaido which was important main line between Tokyo and Kyoto, an interval of Kuwana and Atsuta was 17 miles of sea routes.
A part of the Kuwana Castle can be seen behind the big ship, but Kuwana prospered as a port town not a castle town.
It was important port not only for the trade port to Kyoto, but also rice transportation port to the East Japan decided a market price of rice in the Edo era.

Kiba in Fukagawa 　US$198 each

SIZE : W25.5 /H37.0(cm)

This is one of the excellent works of "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo". Fukagawa is the place name of current Tokyo Koto-ku.
This lumberyards was established at the mouth of the Sumida River and developed as a depot of the construction woods to Edo.
The color scheme to feel winter cold is not serious, and it is felt rather pleasantly by artistry of Hiroshige.

Snow on Bikunihashi Bridge

　US$198 each

SIZE : W 25.0 / H 37.0 (cm)

Bikuni Bridge hung over the Kyoubashi River which flowed through current Chuo-ku, Tokyo. There is a big signboard with a big character on the left side of the snow scene.
This character means the meat of the wild boar, and it was called the mountain whale.
Therefore, there seemed to be a small restaurant outside the left of the screen.

Tekona Shrine of Mama and Tsugihashi Bridge US$198 each

SIZE : W 23.0 / H 34.0 (cm)

This is one of the excellent works of "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo". Mama is the place name of current Ichikawa-shi, Chiba prefecture.
There is the Koubou temple which is famous for red leaves in near Tekona Shrine of Mama. Junction bridge to the Koubou temple is drawn on the center of the screen.

Mandarin Ducks US$198 each

*ATTENTION: This size is smaller than other regular ones.

SIZE : W 18.0 / H 39.0 (cm)

In Japan, the couple of the mandarin duck is a symbol of the married couple that gets along well. The male and female of the mandarin duck are swimming on the surface of the water comfortably.
It express that the foot of the bird is underwater by the repeat printing technique.
One technique to rub without attaching paint is called Karazuri, and it is used for the male pinion to express the softness.

Kinryuzan Temple in Asakusa

　US$198 each

SIZE : W25.0 /H37.0(cm)

This is one of the representative works of Hiroshige. This is a view from Kaminari gate (Thunder gate) of famous Senso Temple in snow day.
It can be seen Houzou gate in the center and five-storied pagoda on the right side. One technique to rub without attaching paint is called Karazuri, and it is used for the snowy area to express feeling of the quantity.

Juman-Tsubo Plain at Susaki, Fukagawa US$198 each

SIZE : W25.0 /H37.0(cm)

Fukagawa was reclaimed land made in the Edo era, but 330,000 square meters (Jumantsubo) were not the places where a person could live a life for rough land. An eagle flaps the wings in the sky above the land, and the composition is powerful and it is the design which is very novel in the present.
Suzaki was scenic area can see the whole land.

Camellias and Sparrows in Snow 　US$198 each

*ATTENTION: This size is smaller than other regular ones.

SIZE : W 18.0 / H 39.5 (cm)

This is a work which let you feel friendly feeling by just making the scenery of the garden a picture.
This sense of closeness and reality will make the real pleasure of Kacho-ga (painting of flowers and birds).
The swallow is one of the most friendly birds for Japanese.

The Great Bridge at Sanjo in Kyoto