Ando Hiroshige

1797-1858

Asian Artist

Hiroshige was born in old Edo (present-day Tokyo). Hiroshige was his "studio surname", bestowed upon him by his painting master Toyohiro when young Hiroshige was fifteen. Hiroshige was orphaned in his twelfth year and succeeded to his father's post as fireman, studying painting all the while. For fourteen years, until he was twenty-six, he was both fireman and painting apprentice. His fame increased when, he painted, and Hoeideo, the publisher, printed, the notable series "Fifty-three Stages on the Tokaido". In his declining years, in addition to landscapes, he created an unique style in depicting birds and flowers and left many remarkable prints. His lyrical expression of nature and the elements reflected his gently romantic lifestyle and he brought Japanese landscape painting to its peak.