Memorial portrait of Utagawa Hiroshige

About this artwork

Here, Utagawa Hiroshige is depicted as a monk in a Buddhist monastery seated on a cushion. He is dressed in a priestly garb of green and an overgarment of thin, black silk gauze. The lengthy text by Hiroshige’s good friend, writer Tenmei Rojin, gives an account of the artist’s career, ending with Hiroshige’s farewell poem: “Dropping my brush in Azuma [Edo], I go the long journey to the western country [paradise] to view there the wonderful scenery.”

Art Historical Context

This memorial portrait, created by Utagawa Kunisada I (also known as Toyokuni III) in 1858, honors the celebrated ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige shortly after his death. Rendered as a color woodblock print in the standard oban format, the work captures Hiroshige’s likeness with the refined line work and expressive detail characteristic of the Utagawa school. Such memorial portraits served as tributes within Japan’s vibrant print culture, blending personal remembrance with the public appreciation of an artist’s legacy. Woodblock printing, the dominant medium for ukiyo-e during the Edo period, allowed for the widespread circulation of images and ideas. Kunisada’s choice of this accessible yet sophisticated technique underscores the democratic spirit of Japanese popular art, where masterfully carved blocks produced vibrant colors and subtle gradations. The compact dimensions of 35.6 × 24.5 cm made the print suitable for private display or collection, inviting viewers to reflect on Hiroshige’s contributions to landscape and travel imagery. As a product of the Arts of Asia collection at the Art Institute of Chicago, this print highlights the enduring cultural importance of ukiyo-e in bridging artistic innovation and everyday life. Kunisada’s respectful portrayal invites modern audiences to appreciate the collaborative spirit of the Utagawa school and the quiet power of printmaking to preserve memory.

About the Artist

Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) · 1786–1864

Utagawa Kunisada I, also known as Toyokuni III (1786–1865), was born Sumida Shōgorō in the Honjo district of Edo (modern Tokyo) into a family that operated a hereditary ferry-boat service, providing stability after his father's early death. Displaying prodigious talent in drawing from childhood, he became an apprentice to the master Utagawa Toyokuni I around 1801 at age fifteen, entering the prest...