Ando Hiroshige (1797 – October 12, 1858)

                                                                                                                              

Kyobashi Takegashi (The Bamboo wharf at Kyobashi)

1856-1858

Ando Hiroshige (or Utagawa Hiroshige or Ichiyusai Hiroshige) is one of the greatest Japanese painters. And his life is rather fascinating, including the fact that he was a firefighter until 1823 and a Buddhist monk in his last two years. As for his legacy, he had a profound influence on following artists, including such faraway painters as van Gogh, who copied some of Hiroshige's works. And I love Hiroshige who at his best produces a uniquely soft romanticism that's difficult to resist.

Bird on a Camellia Branch

1832 

A Shrine Among Trees on a Moor

1837-1838

Akasaka

1854

A Bridge in a Snowy Landscape

1842-1843

Travelers Surprised by a Sudden Rain

1831-1834

Ejiri

1854

Wild Sea Breaking on the Rocks

1853-1856

Tsuchiyama 

1854