City lights and cherry trees:The woodblock prints of Tokyo that captured Europe's imagination
Utagawa Hiroshige(17971858) wasone of the last great artists in theukiyo-etradition. Literally meaning pictures of the floating world,ukiyo-ewas a particular genre of art that flourished between the 17th and 19th centuries and came to characterize the Western worlds visual idea of Japan. In many ways images of hedonism,ukiyo-escenes often represented thebright lights and attractions of Edo (modern-day Tokyo):beautiful women, actors and wrestlers, city life, and spectacular landscapes.
Though he captured a variety of subjects, Hiroshige was most famous for landscapes, with a final masterpiece series known asOne Hundred Famous Views of Edo(18561858), which depicted various scenes of the city through the seasons, frombustling shopping streets to splendid cherry orchards.
This reprint is made from one of the finest complete original sets of woodblock prints belonging to the Ota Memorial Museum of Art in Tokyo. It pairs each of the 120 illustrations with a description, allowing readers to immerse themselves in these beautiful, vibrant vistas that became paradigms ofJaponismeand inspiredImpressionist, Post-ImpressionistandArt Nouveauartists alike, from Vincent van Gogh to James McNeill Whistler.
Though he captured a variety of subjects, Hiroshige was most famous for landscapes, with a final masterpiece series known asOne Hundred Famous Views of Edo(18561858), which depicted various scenes of the city through the seasons, frombustling shopping streets to splendid cherry orchards.
This reprint is made from one of the finest complete original sets of woodblock prints belonging to the Ota Memorial Museum of Art in Tokyo. It pairs each of the 120 illustrations with a description, allowing readers to immerse themselves in these beautiful, vibrant vistas that became paradigms ofJaponismeand inspiredImpressionist, Post-ImpressionistandArt Nouveauartists alike, from Vincent van Gogh to James McNeill Whistler.
About the Series:
Bibliotheca Universalis Compact cultural companions celebrating the eclectic TASCHEN universe at an unbeatable, democratic price!
Since we started our work as cultural archaeologists in 1980, the name TASCHEN has become synonymous with accessible, open-minded publishing.Bibliotheca Universalisbrings together nearly 100 of our all-time favorite titles in a neat new format so you can curate your own affordable library of art, anthropology, and aphrodisia.
Bookworms delight never bore, always excite!
Since we started our work as cultural archaeologists in 1980, the name TASCHEN has become synonymous with accessible, open-minded publishing.Bibliotheca Universalisbrings together nearly 100 of our all-time favorite titles in a neat new format so you can curate your own affordable library of art, anthropology, and aphrodisia.
Bookworms delight never bore, always excite!
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