The video explores meisho-e, or "pictures of famous places" genre in Edo Japan. Learn about Hiroshige's "Plum Estate, Kameido," a woodblock print of Edo's famous Sleeping Dragon Plum tree. Hiroshige is credited with popularizing the genre in the 19th century with the publication of his meisho-e series Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō from 1832–34, inspired by Hokusai’s “Great Wave” print. Along with Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō, we also look at Hiroshige’s One Hundred Famous Views of Edo series, published between 1856 and 1859. This was Hiroshige’s grand farewell when he retired from printmaking.

Learn how Hiroshige's innovative vertical compositions and color gradations captured life in Edo, and how his prints eventually traveled to Europe, influencing artists like Vincent van Gogh.

Speaker: Dr. Cortney Chaffin Kim