Hiroshige (1797-1858) was one of the last great artists in the ukiyo-e tradition. Though he captured a variety of subjects, his talent was shown to greatest effect in creating images of his native Edo (modern-day Tokyo). His masterpiece was a series of woodblock prints One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (1856-1858). The plates for the present publication are taken from one of the finest editions of the work, now in the Ota Memorial Museum of Art in Tokyo. Literally meaning "pictures of the floating world", ukiyo-e refers to the famous Japanese woodblock print genre that originated in the 17th century and has had a lasting influence on the West's visual perception of Japan. Ukiyo-e works traditionally depicted city-life, entertainment, beautiful women, kabuki actors and landscapes. The influence of ukiyo-e in Europe and the USA, often referred to as the Japonisme, can be seen in everything from Impressionist painting to today's manga and anime. Trade paperback measures 15.5" x 12".