I am inspired to write this post thanks to the XIX century, a Japanese artist. His name is Hiroshige (1797-1858).
Last time I read Lorenz Bichler’s book “Hiroshige” (Taschen). According to this book, Hiroshige was one of the last great artists in the ukiyo-e tradition. Ukiyo-e means “pictures of the floating world.” It was a particular genre of Japanese art. It flourished between the 17th and 19th centuries. Also, it characterized the Western world’s visual idea of Japan. Japanese artists inspired such painters as Vincent van Gogh (Flowering plum tree (Hiroshige)); Bridge in the Rain (after Hiroshige)) or James Abbott McNeill Whistler (Nocturne in Blue and Gold: Old Battersea Bridge).
The ukiyo-e scenes often represented the bright lights and attractions of the big city. For a famous Japanese painter, it was Edo – today’s Tokyo.
Beautiful women, actors, city life, and spectacular landscapes are the central theme of Hiroshige’s artworks. The famous Japanese artist captured a variety of subjects. One of my favorite motifs is the way Hiroshige painted trees. Especially curly, characteristic branches. I had already been making photographs of the trees’ particular limbs before knowing a Japanese artist’s woodblock painted prints. But, when I saw his artworks, I realized once again in my life one thing. It is a fact of how artists take inspiration from their surroundings. Japanese artist’s paintings re-inspired me to look for curly branches of the trees.
Hiroshige was most famous for landscapes. His best-known masterpiece series was named “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo.”
A much-appreciated Japanese artist created it between 1856-1858. The scenes of the city were depicted through all the weather seasons. Here, I see another common feature between Hiroshige and me. I do a picture of Warsaw in any weather. I try to present Warsaw in the way of how it looks. Whether it is a hot, sunny day or a cold, freezing temperature outside – I take photographs. Even the most extreme Polish weather doesn’t disturb me.
Nevertheless, I am aware of how much I can still learn from a famous Japanese painter’s heritage. For example, I often try to capture the “floating world” with the same proficiency as the Old Master did. His pictures look like they are frozen in time. While walking through the streets of Warsaw, I often try to do the same. For me, Hiroshige will always remain an unsurpassed inspiration to eternalize my city.
PS
This post is a two-hundredth post on this website.