Author Description

This large-format coffee-table book offers an introduction to the work of Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858), master Japanese print maker and artistic force during the Edo period. The 91 spectacular color plates, reproduced from the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Collection at the Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, highlight Hiroshige's refined color sense, economy of composition and delicate, never-sentimental renderings. Haiku or kyoka translations accompany most plates, and an informative introduction by Bogel gives a short history of the Edo period, describing its roots and symbolism, and placing Hiroshige and his influence in historical context.