Biography

Ukiyo-e artist. Disciple of Toyohiro Utagawa. Created such print genres as flowers-and-birds, actor, and beautiful women. In 1831, earned recognition for the series “Famous Views of the Eastern Capital.” In 1833, “The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido,” published by Hoeido, tapped into the travel trend during the latter half of the Edo era. The success of this series led him to became a leading artist of meisho-e (prints of famous places). He subsequently published such series as “Eight Views of Omi,” “Famous Places in Kyoto” and “Famous Places in Osaka,” through which he established a solid position in the world of ukiyo-e landscapes. His boldly trimmed compositions, using the perspective method, along with his ingenious sense of colors have fascinated and greatly influenced Western European painters. His creative style is characterized by a refined sentiment that ingeniously incorporated the changing seasons and the passage of time.