Posthumous restrike HIROSHIGE 1892 edition “SUWA BLUFF, NAPPORI” - $168 - (Colorado Springs, CO)

Rare 1892 Posthumous Memorial Edition Ando Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797-1858), also known as Utagawa Hiroshige, was a master of the Japanese art of ukiyo-e, color woodblock prints. The subjects of Hiroshige’s work were atypical of the ukiyo-e genre. Most artists of his time focused on beautiful women, popular actors or scenes of the yoshiwara, the pleasure districts of the Edo period, 1603-1868. However, Hiroshige is best known for his landscapes and images of birds and flowers. In fact Hiroshige’s genius for landscape composition was even recognized, and sometimes copied, by the great European Impressionist painters such as Vincent Van Gogh. Hiroshige was born in 1797 in the Yayosu Quay section of the Yaesu district of Edo, present-day Tokyo. He was of samurai background and was the great grandson of Tanaka Tokuemon who held a position of power under the Tsugaru clan in the northern province of Mutsu. His grandfather, Mitsuemon, was a samurai archery instructor. His father, Gen’emon, was warden of the fire brigade for Edo castle. Shortly before his death, his father handed over his duties to Hiroshige. Hiroshige was twelve at the time. At around the age of fourteen, about 1811, Hiroshige sought to study painting under the tutelage of Toyokuni of the Utagawa School. However, Toyokuni already had so many students he was unable to accept him. Fortunately, a librarian introduced Hiroshige to Toyohiro, another established artist and instructor of the same school whom he studied under for a number of years. During his early years in addition to the techniques of the Utagawa School, Hiroshige also studied those of the Kano School. His apprentice work included the usual book illustrations and single page ukiyo-e prints of female beauties, kabuki actors and samurai warriors. In 1823 Hiroshige resigned his position as fire warden and devoted the rest of his life to painting. It is estimated he created more than 5,000 images, specializing in landscapes and kacho-e, bird…

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