Utagawa Hiroshige III
Utagawa Hiroshige III 三代 歌川広重 (1842-1894)
BIOGRAPHY
Sources: The Hotei Encyclopedia of Japanese Woodblock Prints, Amy Reigle Newland, Hotei Publishing Company, 2005, p. 504; Picturing Westernization and Modernization: A Woodblock Print Collection from Late 19th Century Japan, Izumi Koide, June 16, 2006, a paper delivered at the WORLD LIBRARY AND INFORMATION CONGRESS: 72ND IFLA GENERAL CONFERENCE AND COUNCIL 20-24 August 2006, Seoul, Korea https://archive.ifla.org/IV/ifla72/papers/085-Koide-en.pdf [accessed 12-25-23] and as otherwise footnoted.Other names used: Gotō Torakichi 後藤 寅吉, Tokubei 徳兵衛, Torakichi 寅吉, Isshōsai 一笑斎, Shigemasa 重政, Shigetora 重寅, Ichiryūsai 一立斎, Ryūsai 立斎
Family name: Andō Tokubei 安藤 徳兵衛 (安藤徳兵エ)
Note: Hiroshige is also written 廣重, as it appears in most of the artist's signatures.
The son of a shipbuilder in Edo’s Fukagawa district, later adopted by a restaurant owner named Ryotei, he became a student of Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) in his mid-teens. With his master’s death in 1858 he studied with Utagawa Hiroshige II (1826-1869), who was married to Hiroshige’s daughter, Otatsu. Reportedly his first work was the illustration of the ninth volume of the ehon (picture book) Edo miyage (Picture-book of Edo Souvenirs, 1864). With the dissolution of the Hiroshige II’s marriage and Hiroshige II's subsequent return to Yokohama in 1865, Hiroshige III married Otatsu and succeeded to the Hiroshige name.
While none of the lyricism seen in the work of Hiroshige I is detected in his prints, he created quite interesting prints depicting the new port city of Yokohama and Tokyo with their Western buildings, steam locomotives (such as the triptych Steam Train Along Tokyo’s Takanawa Coastline (Tokyo Takanawa kaigan joki kisha tetsudeo no zu 1871), and exotic foreigners. It is said that the artist referred to himself as "Meiji" Hiroshige.1 He designed many print series, three of the best known being Famous Views of Tokyo (Tokyo meisho no uchi, 1879), Famous Places in Tōkai: The Revised 53 Stations (Tōkai Meisho Kaisei 53 Eki, 1876) and Dai Nippon Bussan Zue (The Greater Japan Products, 1877).
While Hiroshige III may not have been a great artist, he was a popular artist, ranking among the top five in a 1880 list of ukiyo-e artists, Kokoku shoga mekia ichiran, along with Toyohara Kunichika (1835–1900), Ogata Gekkô (1859-1920), Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) and Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847-1915).2
1 The World of the Meiji Print: Impressions of a New Civilization, Julia Meech-Pekarik, Weatherhill, 1986, p. 92.2 Courage and Silence: A Study of the Life and Color Woodblock Prints of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi: 1839-1892, Roger Keyes, 1982, p. 51.
Many Views of Tokyo
"Meiji" Hiroshige, as the artist liked to refer to himself, created at least 10 series for various publishers that presented idealized scenic views of Tokyo. The various series quite often presented similar views of the same scenic bridges and districts. As an example see IHL Cat. #484 View of Yanagi Bridge from Asakusa Bridge from the series Famous Places of Tokyo and IHL Cat. #494 View of Yorohibashi from Edobashi from the series Tokyo fuka meisho zukushi.
Among the series of scenic views designed by Hiroshige III are True Views of Tokyo; Famous Places of Tokyo (Tokyo meisho zue); Famous Comic Views of Tokyo; Famous Places of Modern Tokyo (Tokyo kaika meisho zue no uchi); Pictures of the Famous Sights of Tokyo; A Collection of True Views of Tokyo; The Pride of Tokyo Series; Collected Pictures of Tokyo; Photographic Eight Views of Tokyo; The Famous Places of Tokyo-The Past and The Present; Pride of Tokyo: Eight Views of Famous Places (Tokyo jiman meisho hakkei); Thirty-Six Views of Tokyo Civilization.
The Series Dai Nippon Bussan Zue 大日本物産図会 (Products of Greater Japan), 1877
Consisting of 118 chuban-size prints, this series was one of Hiroshige's most popular, issued by the publisher Ōkura Magobei in August 1877 to coincide with the opening of Japan’s first National Industrial Exposition (Naikoku Kangyō Hakurankai) held in Tokyo’s Ueno Park.
In the series two pictures are devoted to each region, or old “kuni,” except the Iyo region, which has four pictures.
For detailed information on this series, please see the article on this site titled
Prints from this series can be found in the collections of:
British Museum illustrated book registration number: 1973,0723,0.116 (partial set)
Waseda University Library Archives
National Institute of Japanese Literature
Hagi Yamaguchi Prefectural Art Museum
Hunting the Giant Octopus of Namekawa in Ecchu [Etchu] province from the series Dai Nippon Bussan Zue
Etchu Province is celebrated for its giant octopi which are considered a delicacy.
Signatures and Seals of the Artist (a sampling)
There is great similarity between the signatures of Hiroshige, Hiroshige II and Hiroshige III with the most confusion arising between the signatures of Hiroshige II and Hiroshige III. Examples of Hiroshige III's signatures follow. For information on Hiroshige II's signatures, see Utagawa Hiroshige II (1826-1869).
廣重
Hiroshige
廣重画
Hiroshige ga
廣重筆
Hiroshige hitsu
廣重筆
Hiroshige hitsu
廣重画
ōju Hiroshige ga
ōju followed by Hiroshige (廣重) seal
Prints in Collection
[BELOW PRINTS GIFTED TO THE JORDAN SCHNITZER MUSEUM OF ART, UNIVERSITY OF OREGON]
click on thumbnail for print details
The True Story of Arashi from Osaka, 1874
IHL Cat. #516
The series Nihon chishi ryakuzu
(Simple Illustrations of Places in Japan), 1876
Iga Province: Ueno, Nagatagawa
IHL Cat. #552
Kai Province: Monkey Bridge
IHL Cat. #585
Iwami Province: Mount Takazuno
Salt Beach
IHL Cat. #536
Oki Province: Takuhiyama, Takibi no Yashiro
IHL Cat. #1082
The series Dai Nippon Bussan Zue (Products of Greater Japan), 1877
Aki Province
Selling Toothpicks at Itsukushima and Hiroshima Oyster Farm in Aki Province (crepe print)
IHL Cat. #668
Bingo Province
Mat Making in Bingo Province
IHL Cat. #461 and
#1921 (crepe print)
Bingo Province
Planting Rush in Bingo Province
(crepe print)
IHL Cat. #1920
Bizen Province
Slate Pencil Making in Bizen Okayama
IHL Cat. #590
Chishima Province and Hokkaido
Catching Sea Otter
in Chishima Province
IHL Cat. #1478
Chishima Province and Hokkaido
Shipping Ice
from Hakodate, Hokkaidō
IHL Cat. #1479
Echigo Province
Bleaching Fabric
on the Snow in Echigo Province
IHL Cat. #366 and #1490
Echigo Province
Catching Salmon in Echigo Province
IHL Cat. #364 and #1489
Etchu Province
Iron Works in Etchu Province
IHL Cat. #369
Hitachi Province
Silkworm Culture in Hitachi Province (figure 1)
HL Cat. #589
Hizen Province
Manufacturing Imari Porcelain in Hizen [Province], figure 1
IHLCat. #1499
Hizen Province
Manufacturing Imari Porcelain, figure 2 in Hizen [Province]
IHL Cat.#1494
Hyūga Province
Camphor Manufacture in Hyuga Province
IHL Cat. #542
Hyūga Province
Producing Vitriol in Hyūga Province
IHL Cat. #325
Iga Province
Polishing-sand of Iga Province
IHL Cat. #323 and #1428
Iga Province
Coal Mining in Iga Province
IHL Cat. #324 and #1486
Iki Province
Pulling Up a Whale in Iki Province (crepe print)
IHL Cat. #1918
Ise Province
Abalone Divers in Ise Province
IHL Cat. #1482
Ise Province
Making Stretched Dried Abalone in Ise Province
IHL Cat. #1493
Iwaki Province
Silkworm Culture in Iwaki Province (figure 4)
IHL Cat. #372
Iwaki Province
Wild Horse Capture in Iwaki Province
IHL Cat. #368
Iwashiro Province
Making Wax in Iwashiro Province
IHL Cat. #2395
Iyo Province
Burdock Harvest in Iyo Province
IHL Cat. #326 and #326A
Iyo Province
Wild Geese Hunting in Iyo Province
IHL Cat. #370
Iyo Province
Capturing Falcons in Iyo Province, figure 1
IHL Cat. #537 and #1508
Iyo Province
Crane Hawk [falconry] in Iyo Province figure 2
IHL Cat. #1507
Izu Province
Charcoal Making in Izu Province
IHL Cat. #371
Izu Province
Making Camellia Oil in Izu Province
IHL Cat. #365
Kaga Province
Bear Hunting for Gall in Kaga Province
IHL Cat. #272 and #1496
Kaga Province
Sedge Hat Making in Kaga Province
IHL Cat. #462 and #1502
Kii Province
Mandarin Orange Plantation in Kii Province
IHL Cat. #540 and
#1919 (crepe print)
Mikawa Province
Harvesting Lacquer in Mikawa Province
IHL Cat. #539
Noto Province
Making Sōmen in Noto Province
IHL Cat. #1501
Noto Province
Mackerel Fishing at Night in Noto Province
IHL Cat. #363 and #1500
Sanuki Province
White Sugar Production in Sanuki Province
IHL Cat. #541
Sanuki Province
Making Sanbon Sugar in Sanuki Province
IHL Cat. #1470
Settsu Province
Sake Brewing at Itami in Settsu Province (crepe print)
IHL Cat. #1907
Settsu Province
Shipping New Brew Sake in Settsu Province (crepe print)
IHL Cat. #1945
Shimosa Province
Soy Sauce and Watermelon Field in Shimosa Province
IHL Cat. #362
Suruga Province
Manufacturing Bamboo Work in Suruga Province
IHL Cat. #373
Suruga Province
Papermaking in
Suruga Province
IHL Cat. #381
Tajima Province
Making Wicker Trunks in Tajima Province
IHL Cat. #1491
Tajima Province
Cultivating Wild Silkworms in Tajima Province
IHL Cat. #1497
Tango Province
Catching Yellowtails in Tango Province
IHL Cat. #374 and #1498
Tango Province
Beach Fishing for Yellowtail in Tango Province
IHL Cat. #1505
Tosa Province
Fishing for Bonito in Tosa Province
IHL Cat. #1492
Tosa Province
Making Dried Bonito Flakes in Tosa Province
IHL Cat. #1509
Wakasa Province
Fishing for Flatfish in Wakasa Province
IHL Cat. #1485
Wakasa Province
Making Steamed Flatfish in Wakasa Province
IHL Cat. #1487
Yamashiro Province
Picking Uji Tea in Yamashiro Province, figure 1
IHL Cat. #1495
Yamashiro Province
Producing Uji Tea in Yamashiro Province, figure 2
IHL Cat. #1481
Yamato Province
Digging Kudzu [Pueraria] Root in Yamato Province
IHL Cat. #1480
Yamato Province
Making Arrowroot Powder in Yamato Province
IHL Cat. #367, #367A, #1506
View of Yorohibashi from Edobashi from the series Tokyo fuka meisho zukushi, 1874
IHL Cat. #494
From Kyobashi to Ginza from the series Thirty-six Views of Tokyo Civilization, 1874
IHL Cat. #572
Famous Places of Tokyo, Shimbashi Station, 1875
IHL Cat. #352
Famous Places of Tokyo, First National Bank, 1875
IHL Cat. #994
View from Asakusa Bridge to Yanagi Bridge from the series Famous Places in Tokyo, c. 1875
IHL Cat. #484
Ginza Brick Building from the series Famous Views in Tokyo, 1874/1876
IHL Cat. #483
Gathering Shellfish at Low Tide at Fukagawa Susaki from the series Famous Views in Modern Tokyo, 1876
IHL Cat. #1169
The series Ryūsai manga (Sketches by Ryūsai), 1879
Old Story, Chrysanthemum Flower and Crane, Sumida River and Okina from the series
Ryūsai manga, 1879
IHL Cat. #1581
Boy Reading, Bushclover and Grass, Lake Hakone, Bonsai and First Bonita of the Season from the series Ryūsai manga, 1879
IHL Cat. #1582
Ichikawa Danjūrō, Peony and Butterfly, Mountain in Early Spring and Chinese Peddler from the series Ryūsai manga, 1879
IHL Cat. #1583
Ōsumi Sakurashima, Iris and Kingfisher and Saigō Nanshū from the series
Ryūsai manga, 1879
IHL Cat. #1584
The series Kokon Tokyo meisho (Famous Places of Tokyo: Past and Present), 1883-1884
Suruga-chō, Evening View of Mitsui Bank with Mt Fuji [present view]
IHL Cat. #1284
Akasaka Kinokuni-zaka,
[past view]
IHL Cat. #605
Akasaka Temporary Palace
[present view]
IHL Cat. #1289
The Ebisuya and Hoteiya Dry-Goods Store in Owari-chō, 1884 [past view]
IHL Cat. #1281
Nippōsha Nichinichi Shinbun in
Owari-chō [present view]
IHL Cat. #1282
Yoroi Ferry at Koami-chō
[past view]
IHL Cat. #1280
Yoroi Bridge at Kabuto-chō
[present view]
IHL Cat. #1290
Kawarake-nage at Asukayama Park, [past view]
IHL Cat. #1291
Ōji Paper Company Viewed from Asukayama Park, [present view]
IHL Cat. #1285
Saruwaka-machi sanshibai
[past view]
IHL Cat. #1283
Fukadaiichi no gekijō Shintomi-za [present view]
IHL Cat. #1292
Kinryūzan Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate, Sensōji in Asakusa) [past view]
IHL Cat. #1279
Picture of the Imperial Palace Buildings, 1888
IHL Cat. #814