The Art of Hiroshige: Capturing the Fleeting Moments of Japan’s Landscapes
A stunning exhibition at the British Museum, Hiroshige: Artist of the Open Road, showcases the works of one of Japan’s most renowned artists, Utagawa Hiroshige. The exhibition, which features over 100 of Hiroshige’s woodblock prints, offers a glimpse into the artist’s unique perspective on the natural world and the changing landscapes of Japan.
According to the Financial Times, "In Utagawa Hiroshige’s ‘Shōno — Sudden Rain Shower’ (c1833-35), porters carrying a palanquin race for shelter. Their bodies bend as a storm cloaks the sky in a half-lit grey. The bamboo trees loom like giant waves." These prints, which date back to the 19th century, demonstrate Hiroshige’s mastery of capturing the fleeting moments of Japan’s landscapes.
The exhibition, which is drawn from the collection of American businessman and connoisseur Alan Medaugh, features some of Hiroshige’s most famous works, including "Sudden Shower over Tadasugawara" (c1834) and "Sudden Shower over Ōhashi and Atake" (1857). These prints showcase Hiroshige’s use of rain as a motif, creating a sense of movement and energy in his works.
As noted by the Financial Times, "You can explain [the appeal of Hiroshige’s prints] away in formal terms: how Hiroshige bisects his picture in dramatic diagonals of, say, bridge, water and shore. Or perhaps these pictures acquire their sense of movement from the printing itself." The printing process, which involves using carved cherry wood blocks and mulberry paper, allows for a level of detail and texture that is unparalleled in Hiroshige’s works.
Hiroshige’s art is about capturing the fleeting moments of Japan’s landscapes, from the natural world to the changing moods of the city. Born in Edo, now Tokyo, in 1797, Hiroshige came of age during a time of great change in Japan. He lived through an era of crop failure, disastrous famine, economic crisis, and tensions within the samurai elite.
The Financial Times notes that "Hiroshige lived through an era of vertiginous change. He came to fame in a time of crop failure, disastrous famine, economic crisis and tensions within the samurai elite. When he died a debtor at the age of 62, during a cholera epidemic, Japan had been ‘opened up’ by American gunboats."
Despite the tumultuous times in which he lived, Hiroshige’s works remain serene and contemplative, capturing the beauty of Japan’s landscapes and the changing seasons. His depictions of animals, such as a mean-looking cuckoo descending at speed, or a white rabbit’s red eyes gazing up at the full moon, are particularly noteworthy.
The exhibition also features Hiroshige’s famous series, The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō, which was a huge success in Japan. The series, which features 53 prints, showcases Hiroshige’s skill at capturing the changing landscapes of Japan’s coastal highway.
As noted by the Financial Times, "In ‘Nihonbashi — Morning Scene’ (c1833-35) the entourage of a samurai lord scurries ahead carrying luggage and feathery banners, their faces bowed and dutiful. At another stop on the road, the landscape is almost completely drained of colour, the snow turning it into a study in black and white."
Hiroshige’s later series, 100 Famous Views of Edo, features some of his most innovative works, including "Suidō Bridge and Surugadai" (1857), which features a monstrous black carp flung into the sky.
The exhibition, which runs until September 7, is a must-see for anyone interested in Japanese art and culture. As the Financial Times notes, "It is a kind of magic." The British Museum’s exhibition is a testament to Hiroshige’s enduring legacy as an artist and his ability to capture the fleeting moments of Japan’s landscapes.
For those interested in learning more about Hiroshige and his works, the exhibition is accompanied by a range of events and activities, including talks and workshops. Visitors can also explore the British Museum’s website for more information about the exhibition and Hiroshige’s works.
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- For more information about the exhibition, visit the British Museum’s website at britishmuseum.org.
- To find out more about Hiroshige’s life and works, visit the Financial Times’ website at ft.com.
