Japanese woodblock prints · Artist profile · Market guide
Utagawa Hiroshige
1797–1858 · Edo (Tokyo). The poet of rain, snow and moonlight – whose views of Edo inspired Van Gogh and Monet.
Landscapes with weather and mood
Utagawa Hiroshige was born in Edo in 1797 into a family of fire wardens. He trained in the Utagawa school and found his great subject in landscape: travel routes, famous places, the seasons. His breakthrough came with The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō (1833–34), the road between Edo and Kyoto seen through rain, snow, mist and evening light.
His late masterpiece is One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (1856–58) – in fact 118 sheets, with dramatic close-ups in the foreground and deep views behind. Vincent van Gogh painted copies of two of them in 1887, among them Plum Estate, Kameido.
Hiroshige was hugely productive, and his designs were printed in large editions. Value depends on the design, how early the impression is, colour and condition. In September 2026, an impression of Plum Estate, Kameido set a single-print record of $358,400 at Christie's.
Timeline
- 1797Born in Edo.
- 1811Pupil of Utagawa Toyohiro.
- 1833–34The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō.
- 1856–58One Hundred Famous Views of Edo.
- 1858Dies in Edo, probably of cholera.
- 1887Van Gogh paints copies after two of the Edo views.
- 2026Single-print record: Plum Estate, Kameido, $358,400.
Techniques and media
As with Hokusai, the same design exists as an early impression, a later printing and a reproduction.
Landscape series
Tōkaidō, Kisokaidō, Views of Edo – his main work, mostly in the vertical or horizontal oban format.
Bird-and-flower prints
Poetic nature studies, often in narrow formats.
Triptychs
Three sheets forming one wide view.
Later impressions
Printed after the first editions, with changed colours or worn blocks.
Reproductions
Newly cut blocks after his designs – common for the famous Edo views.
What Utagawa Hiroshige works sell for
Prices below are public auction results. They show the range – not what a specific piece is worth.
Single-print record: Plum Estate, Kameido, Christie's, September 2026.
A complete set of One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, Sotheby's Online, July 2024.
The large majority of Hiroshige prints on the market.
Highest auction results
| Work | Price | Auction |
|---|---|---|
| Plum Estate, Kameido (One Hundred Famous Views of Edo), 1857 | $358,400 | Christie's, 2026 |
| One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (complete set), 1856–58 | $405,400 | Sotheby's Online, 2024 |
The 2026 record came from the collection of Alan Medaugh, a sale of 181 Hiroshige prints.
Real or not? What to check
Hiroshige is among the most reproduced print artists. Before you insure or sell, find out whether you have an Edo-period impression, a later printing or a reproduction.
- Look at the back: In a real woodblock print the colours soak into the paper and show through on the back. A modern offset print shows nothing – and under a magnifier its front shows a regular dot pattern.
- Paper: Traditional prints are on soft, fibrous mulberry paper (kozo). Bright, smooth, perfectly even paper points to a later reproduction.
- Seals: Edo-period prints carry the artist's signature plus publisher's and often censor's or date seals. Their combination helps date an impression.
- Lines and colour: Early impressions have crisp key-block lines and fine colour gradations (bokashi). Worn blocks and flat colours suggest a later printing.
- Size: Compare with the standard formats – most landscape and portrait prints are oban, about 39 × 26 cm (roughly A3).
How much is a Hiroshige print worth?
From very little for reproductions to six figures for the finest impressions of famous designs. Early impression, colour, margins and condition decide.
Did Van Gogh copy Hiroshige?
Yes. In 1887 Van Gogh painted copies of two prints from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, including Plum Estate, Kameido.
Do you own a work attributed to Utagawa Hiroshige?
Start with a free estimate from photos. For a sale, insurance or an estate, order a written appraisal by an independent expert with a notarized signature.
Sources (auction figures as published there):
- Apollo – September 2026 auctions: Hiroshige record at Christie's
- HENI – Hiroshige leads Sotheby's online Japanese woodblock prints auction (2024)
- University of Alabama – Right or wrong? Ukiyo-e reproductions
ArtworkValue is not affiliated with any museum, dealer or auction house. This page does not offer works by Utagawa Hiroshige for sale.