Navaro Rapids, c.1855By Ando Hiroshige

Ando Hiroshige (1797 – 1858), one of the most famous Japanese Ukiyo-e artists, translated ordinary landscapes into graceful, poetic forms. Orphaned at age 12, Hiroshige took over his father’s firefighting job and was soon inspired to become an artist like his role model, the esteemed Hokusai. He originally depicted traditional subjects such as young women and actors, and later won fame as a landscape artist. Hiroshige’s masterpiece, “Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido,” and other landscapes, utilized unusual vantage points, striking colors and realistic depth. Tourism was becoming popular, and Hiroshige drew upon his own travels to create an astounding 5,400 prints.