Prints from a Premier Collection—An Unprecedented Look at Hiroshige’s Three Most Iconic Series
The artist Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858) was primarily a commercial print designer working in ukiyo-e, a genre of woodblock prints and paintings depicting popular subjects. His striking landscapes evoking the changing seasons and vibrant images of birds and flowers marked the beginning of a new era in ukiyo-e. Today, Hiroshige’s name is most strongly associated with his landscape prints. He captured the beauty of scenic places across Japan, carving out a unique place for himself through inventive compositional layouts, clever methods of signaling shifts in time and weather, and by seamlessly integrating local inhabitants. His approachable yet innovative style won him a massive following during the Edo period (1603–1868).
The Tokyo National Museum was recently gifted 1,025 ukiyo-e prints from the collection of Uchiyama Susumu (1893–1980). Over the course of his life, Uchiyama built a high-quality collection of prints, largely focused on Hiroshige’s works, and made significant contributions to the popularization and study of ukiyo-e through exhibitions and publications showcasing his collection.
To commemorate the acquisition of these invaluable works, the Museum is holding a three-part exhibition featuring Hiroshige’s most renowned prints in the landscape and bird-and-flower genres, with a special look at his three most iconic series: The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road (Part One), The Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaidō Road (Part Two), and One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Part Three). The exhibition constitutes a globally unprecedented opportunity to view all three works in their entirety.
Visit to discover how the master printmaker Hiroshige breathed new life into Edo Japan’s most famous scenic views.
Exhibition Highlight
①TNM’s First True Hiroshige Exhibition
At the Museum’s first exhibition dedicated exclusively to Hiroshige, visitors will explore the landscape expressions he pioneered, primarily through his three most famous series.
②Happening Here, Happening Now: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Chance to See Hiroshige’s Three Most Iconic Series
Every print in the three series The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road (Part One), The Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaidō Road (Part Two), and One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Part Three) will be on view during the exhibition’s respective parts. Don’t miss this rare chance to experience Hiroshige’s work on a grand scale.
③Travel 200 Years into the Past to Experience Edo Japan
Edo Japan’s historic landscapes are brought back to life is stunning detail thanks to the exceptional condition of the prints in the Uchiyama Susumu Collection.
A dedicated exhibition corner features an ultra-high-definition video on an immersive screen, letting visitors dive in to Hiroshige’s colorful compositions.
