ABOUT THIS COLLECTION  
Hiroshige is considered the last great master of the ukiyo-e genre ("pictures of the floating world"), or the traditional woodblock printing that flourished from the 17th to the 19th centuries.  Hiroshige’s work, like other masters of the genre, is marked by a visual language of unusual viewpoints, abrupt cropping, exquisite stylization and patches of vivid color. “Ukiyo,” the Buddhist concept of impermanence, was adapted artistically by ukiyo-e artists to represent the “floating world” of transient activities in daily life, especially in the theaters, teahouses and brothels of Japan’s great cities. While only the wealthy could afford paintings by the artists of the day, ukiyo-e prints were enjoyed by a wide audience because they could be produced quite cheaply and in large numbers.
 
COLLECTION DETAILS
Series title: Utagawa Hiroshige: Last Great Master of Ukiyo-e
Series size: 8 artworks
Edition: Limited edition of 1000
Proof of Ownership: Certification on the Ethereum blockchain under the ERC1155 protocol. Each artwork is delivered privately and directly to collectors as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that guarrante proof of ownership.
Format: Pieces consist of PNG files sized 2160x3840 pixels - 150 dpi.
Medium: Woodblock printing
Artwork materials:  Paper, color woodcut
Contract Address: 0x495f947276749ce646f68ac8c248420045cb7b5e
ID: 2749212597480566...
 
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) created 8,000 prints of everyday life and landscape in Edo-period Japan.. His most famous series include “Famous Views of the Eastern Capital” (1831), “53 Stations of the Tōkaidō” (1833–1834), and “36 Views of Mount Fuji” (1852–1858).The “floating world” of his prints focuses on seasonal phenomena, fleeting weather conditions or festivities that marked the passing of time. His prints offered a lasting record of experiences that otherwise disappeared quickly. Artistically, along with his dynamic compositions and brilliant use of color, he conveyed  a sense of the quiet grandeur of everyday life. These qualities had a profound influence on the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists of Europe, Including Gauguin and Van Gogh.  His depiction of trees and flowers also had a strong influence on Art Nouveau design. In 1856, he decided to become a Buddhist monk, but continued to produce art, including “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo,” in 1857, one of the greatest achievements in Japanese art.
 
COLLECTION CREDITS
Historical curatorship: HARI - Historical Art Research Institute (HARI Editions)
Artwork: Utagawa Hiroshige
Year of original publication: 1842 - 1858
Post-production: HARI - Historical Art Research Institute (HARI Editions)
Digital art supervisor: Marie-Lou Desmeules
Editorial: Braden Phillips
Historical research: Evangelos Rosios, Braden Phillips
Executive production: Victor Zabrockis
 
RIGHTS OVERVIEW
Source of artwork: Rijksmuseum
Underlying work rights: PD Worldwide
Digital copyrights: No Additional Rights