Created from high-quality wood, milled with simple clean lines and presented with a satin finish. Includes an off-white mount that will not discolour or fade with age. - Simple, elegant design - Premium, fine art paper with a gently textured surface - Handmade by specialist picture framers - FSC certified off-white mat / window mount - Delivered ready for hanging

The "Album of Ichiryusai Hiroshige's Sketches" (1850) is a captivating collection elucidating the delicacies and intricacies of Utagawa Hiroshige's skilled artistry. Each page of this album bursts with various scenes, executed with meticulous attention to detail and composition.

Subjects and Themes:
- Landscapes: Rolling hills and serene rivers, captured with sweeping lines and subtle gradations of ink, provide a sense of tranquility.
- Flora and Fauna: Detailed sketches of plants, trees, and animals, emphasizing Hiroshige’s attentiveness to the natural world.
- Everyday Life: Snapshots of Japanese life, from bustling marketplaces to quiet temples, framed by the elegant architecture and rich traditions of the period.

Technique and Style:
- Line Work: Hiroshige’s deft use of brush and ink creates fluid lines, capturing movement and life with economical but expressive strokes.
- Composition: The arrangement of elements reflects a harmonious balance, guiding the viewer’s eye through the landscape or scene effortlessly.
- Perspective: Hiroshige often employs a bird's-eye view, granting a broader and more expansive perspective of the scenes.

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) was a preeminent artist of the Edo period, celebrated for his ukiyo-e woodblock prints and paintings. The "Album of Ichiryusai Hiroshige's Sketches" is a profound example of his work during this productive period in his career.

Artistic Movements:
- Ukiyo-e (Pictures of the Floating World): Hiroshige was a master of the ukiyo-e genre, known for its focus on landscapes, kabuki actors, and courtesans. This album reveals his ability to transcend the typical subjects of ukiyo-e to capture more personalized and spontaneous sketches.
- Shijo School Influence: The fluidity and simplicity in Hiroshige’s sketches also resonate with the Shijo school’s emphasis on naturalism and sketch-like spontaneity.

Original Painting Location:
The original "Album of Ichiryusai Hiroshige's Sketches" is held in the collection of prestigious institutions such as the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, which houses a significant collection of Japanese art.

Career Context:
- Journey and Exploration: The 1850s marked a period of considerable exploration in Hiroshige’s life. He often traveled extensively, which informed the profound observational quality evident in his sketches.
- Artistic Evolution: This album showcases Hiroshige’s evolving style, where his ink sketches begin to take on a more personal, reflective character compared to his earlier, more formal compositions.

- Ephemeral Beauty: The sketches embody the Japanese concept of "mono no aware," or the transient beauty of life, with their fleeting, intimate depictions.
- Legacy and Influence: Hiroshige’s sketches influenced countless artists both in Japan and abroad, notably impacting Western artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet.
- Example of Methodology: This album offers insight into Hiroshige’s artistic process, showing the preliminary stages of thoughts that might later be developed into full-fledged woodblock prints.

The "Album of Ichiryusai Hiroshige's Sketches (1850)" is more than a compilation of drawings; it serves as a window into Hiroshige’s creative mind, reflecting his profound connection to nature, his surroundings, and the everyday life of Edo-period Japan. It stands as a testament to his enduring legacy in the world of art.