Few bodies of artwork capture the poetry of place as beautifully as Utagawa Hiroshige’s celebrated series, One Hundred Famous Views of Edo. Created in the final years of his life between 1856 and 1858, this collection of 118 woodblock prints stands today as one of the most exquisite visual archives of old Tokyo, then known as Edo. Rich in delicate colour, atmospheric detail, and a deep affection for daily life, these prints continue to influence artists, designers, scholars and collectors around the world.
For many, Hiroshige’s landscapes are more than historical records; they are windows into a different rhythm of life — one filled with seasonal rituals, riverside strolls, temple visits, gardens, bridges and the quiet poetry of ordinary people living in a city that was growing rapidly yet still deeply connected to nature. Among the most beloved prints from this iconic series is “Maples at Mama,” a serene, contemplative scene that epitomises Hiroshige’s gift for blending the natural and human worlds with gentle mastery.
In this long-form article, we explore the artist behind the series, the cultural world of Edo that shaped his vision, the techniques that make these prints so enduring, and the timeless appeal of this remarkable collection.
Hiroshige: The Artist Behind the Masterpieces
To understand One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, we must first understand Hiroshige himself — a master of ukiyo-e woodblock printmaking and one of Japan’s most beloved landscape artists. Born in 1797 into a low-ranking samurai family, Hiroshige unexpectedly inherited the position of fire warden after his father’s death. Although the job offered security, it also left him ample free time, which he devoted to studying art under the Utagawa School.
Where many ukiyo-e artists focused on actors, courtesans and bustling street life, Hiroshige’s heart was drawn to the natural world — mountains, rivers, gardens, and the small moments that bring a city to life. His eye for the poetic, the fleeting and the atmospheric eventually led him to transform landscape printmaking in Japan.
Before the One Hundred Views, Hiroshige was already celebrated for earlier series such as The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō, which had made him famous across Japan. His ability to depict shifting weather, seasonal changes and the emotional atmosphere of a place set him apart from his contemporaries.
By the time he began the Edo series in 1856, Hiroshige was in his late fifties and considered a national treasure. It is widely believed the series was intended as his artistic farewell to the city he loved.
Edo: A City of Tradition, Water and Seasons
The Edo of Hiroshige’s time was the seat of the Tokugawa shogunate — a vibrant, bustling city full of samurai, merchants, artisans and travellers. Though enormous by global standards of the era, Edo was still deeply connected to nature. Rivers flowed throughout the city, cherry trees lined the walkways, temples were wrapped in lush forests, and seasonal rituals shaped the rhythm of urban life.
Hiroshige was deeply attuned to these rhythms. He didn’t just record locations; he captured:
the mist rising over a river at dawn
the crisp colours of autumn maples
the soft blush of cherry blossoms in spring
the quiet hush of winter snow
Each print shows the city not merely as a collection of buildings, but as an ecosystem — a place where nature and humanity intertwined gracefully.
The Creation of the Series
Though commonly referred to as “one hundred views,” the series actually contains 118 prints, produced in collaboration with Edo’s finest woodcarvers and printers. Hiroshige provided the original paintings, which were then carved meticulously into woodblocks. Each colour required a separate carved block, all aligned with astonishing precision.
This series was produced shortly before Hiroshige retired to become a Buddhist monk. Many scholars believe the collection was his final love letter to Edo — one last attempt to preserve the city’s beauty as the old order of Japan prepared for dramatic change.
Themes and Significance of the Series
The series is celebrated not just for its technical brilliance but for its deep thematic richness. Its themes include:
1. The Poetic Power of Seasons
Each print highlights a specific seasonal moment — blooming cherry blossoms, fiery autumn maples, gentle rain showers and snow-covered bridges. Hiroshige’s mastery of seasonality gives the series a natural rhythm and emotional resonance.
2. The Harmony Between People and Nature
Ukiyo-e prints often depict bustling urban life, but Hiroshige blends humanity gently into his landscapes. People appear small compared to the natural world, suggesting a humble coexistence.
3. Everyday Beauty
Hiroshige often chose simple, unassuming scenes — a fisherman on the riverbank, farmers in a field, a quiet village road. His work elevates the ordinary, reminding us that beauty is woven into daily life.
4. A Documentary Archive of Edo
Bridges, temples, gardens, famous landmarks, and even specific tree species are captured with loving detail. Today these prints are invaluable historical records of Tokyo before rapid modernisation.
Key Locations in the Series
One Hundred Famous Views of Edo covers a vast array of locations across the city, each chosen for its cultural importance, natural beauty or popularity as a seasonal destination. Hiroshige’s subjects include:
Ueno Park with its spring cherry blossoms
Mount Fuji rising beyond the city skyline
Nihonbashi Bridge, a famous starting point for Japan’s highways
Kameido Tenjin Shrine, known for wisteria blooms
Ryōgoku Bridge and Sumida River, lively gathering places
Meguro, an area known for its rustic beauty
The maple groves of Mama, celebrated for autumn colour
Each print captures not only the visual beauty of a place but also its atmosphere — the sense of time, season and movement.
Among the most beloved pieces in the series is “Maples at Mama” (Mama no momiji). This work showcases Hiroshige’s exquisite handling of colour and perspective, presenting a sweeping view of a maple grove in full autumn splendour.
Why This Print Is So Highly Regarded
1. A Masterclass in Composition
Hiroshige frames the scene using large maples in the foreground, their rich red leaves arching across the view. In the distance, a calm river curves gently toward the horizon, drawing the eye deeper into the landscape.
2. A Sense of Stillness and Space
Despite being set near Edo, this print feels peaceful and reflective. Hiroshige invites viewers to pause, breathe and appreciate the quiet beauty of nature.
3. Seasonal Symbolism
Autumn was associated with reflection and the transient nature of life. The vivid maple leaves convey emotion — warmth mixed with the gentle melancholy of changing seasons.
4. Cultural Significance
The Mama region (present-day Chiba) was a popular autumn excursion site. Hiroshige captures not only the location but the experience of visiting it.
Artistic Techniques That Make the Series Iconic
Hiroshige’s artistic methods and stylistic innovations are central to the enduring appeal of the Edo series.
1. Bold Use of Colour Gradients (Bokashi)
Hiroshige used careful shading techniques to blend colours seamlessly:
deep blues fading into pale sky
warm oranges dissolving into soft greys
twilight gradients capturing evening light
These transitions give the prints their dreamy, atmospheric quality.
2. Asymmetrical Composition
Unlike Western landscapes, Hiroshige often placed major elements off-centre or partially outside the frame. This created dynamic, modern-feeling compositions that influenced impressionist painters like Monet and Van Gogh.
3. Close-Up Foregrounds with Distant Backgrounds
Many prints show an object up close — branches, posts, umbrellas — with a sweeping landscape beyond. This mixture of intimacy and breadth makes viewers feel present inside the scene.
Plum Garden at Kameido – Another Iconic View From the Edo Series
Plum Garden at Kameido (Kameido Umeyashiki) is another of the most celebrated works from Hiroshige’s One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, and it pairs beautifully with Maples at Mama on any product page discussing the series. This print captures the famous Kameido plum gardens, a popular destination during the Edo period known for its spectacular blooming trees. The centerpiece of the artwork is the enormous, twisting trunk of the “Sleeping Dragon Plum,” a legendary tree admired throughout Japan for its dramatic shape and early blossoms. Hiroshige uses this gnarled, close-up branch as a powerful visual anchor, creating a dynamic contrast between the heavy foreground and the delicate pink and white blossoms beyond.
What makes Plum Garden at Kameido particularly special is Hiroshige’s ability to combine bold composition with a sense of gentle seasonal beauty. The thick plum branch dominates the frame, immediately pulling the viewer into the scene, while the background unfolds into soft colours, elegant garden structures, and the hint of spring in the air. This unusual viewpoint — focusing on a single massive tree from below — was groundbreaking at the time and was later admired by Western painters, including Van Gogh, who famously recreated this print in oil. It remains one of Hiroshige’s most iconic and influential artworks, celebrated for both its technical innovation and its emotional impact.
In modern interiors, Plum Garden at Kameido brings a sense of renewal and quiet elegance. The soft pinks and gentle whites of the blossoms introduce a serene, uplifting atmosphere, while the dark, sculptural form of the plum tree adds striking visual interest. Like all Hiroshige works, it offers both cultural depth and timeless beauty, making it an ideal companion piece to Maples at Mama or a standalone artwork that enriches contemporary home décor with historic Japanese artistry.
4. Emotional Weather
Hiroshige’s rain, mist, snow and wind are almost characters themselves. Weather is not just background; it shapes the mood.
Cultural Impact and Continuing Legacy
Hiroshige’s Edo series has had enormous influence throughout the world. In the late 19th century, the prints were imported to Europe, inspiring impressionist painters who admired Hiroshige’s bold cropping, colour and sense of atmosphere.
Van Gogh famously copied several of Hiroshige’s prints, calling him a poet of nature. Today, designers and artists continue to draw inspiration from this collection, and museums around the world exhibit these woodblocks as masterpieces of world art.
For modern collectors and art lovers, the series represents both historical beauty and timeless emotional appeal.
Why One Hundred Famous Views of Edo Continues to Captivate Today
Even in the digital age, Hiroshige’s Edo series feels fresh and moving. It offers:
A connection to nature in a fast-paced world
A sense of calm and reflection
A beautifully preserved vision of a city long transformed
A palette and style that blends seamlessly with modern décor
Prints like Maples at Mama feel particularly relevant today, as more people seek artwork that brings serenity, natural beauty and meaningful history into their homes.
Bringing Hiroshige Into Modern Australian Homes
Hiroshige’s One Hundred Famous Views of Edo remains one of the most influential and visually poetic series in world art, offering a rare glimpse into the landscapes, seasons and cultural heartbeat of Edo-period Japan. Even more than 160 years later, these works continue to inspire both art enthusiasts and everyday viewers who are drawn to their stillness, colour and emotional depth. Prints like Maples at Mama and Plum Garden at Kameido demonstrate Hiroshige’s mastery of composition and atmosphere, making them timeless choices for modern interiors.
At Canvas Prints Australia, we’re proud to offer a wide selection of Hiroshige’s most celebrated pieces, reproduced with exceptional clarity and printed locally using premium materials. Whether you’re a collector of Japanese woodblock art, a lover of traditional landscapes, or someone simply seeking artwork that adds calm and character to a space, Hiroshige’s prints offer beauty that never fades. His ability to capture fleeting moments in nature resonates deeply with contemporary Australian décor styles, especially those that value minimalism, serenity and natural harmony.
Beyond Hiroshige, we have curated an extensive Japanese Art Collection that includes many of Japan’s most iconic masters. This includes the world-renowned Katsushika Hokusai, creator of The Great Wave off Kanagawa, as well as other brilliant ukiyo-e artists who shaped the global understanding of Japanese aesthetics. Our collection spans serene landscapes, traditional woodblocks, seasonal studies and historic cultural scenes, offering a rich range of options to explore.
This dedicated Japanese art range allows customers to build entire themed spaces — from serene coastal bedrooms to refined living areas or elegant hallways filled with traditional charm. Whether you wish to pair Hiroshige with Hokusai, mix different ukiyo-e styles, or build a curated wall of iconic prints, our collection makes it easy to bring the spirit of classic Japan into your home. Each reproduction is crafted in Australia with exceptional attention to detail and made to last for years.
As the appreciation of Japanese art continues to grow, owning a piece inspired by Hiroshige’s vision connects you not only to history but to a body of work that still feels profoundly alive. We invite you to explore our full Hiroshige range — along with our extensive Japanese art collection — and discover timeless pieces that resonate with beauty, culture and craftsmanship.
Explore Japanese Art Prints for Your Home
Inspired by Hiroshige’s iconic woodblock prints? Browse our landscape art and canvas prints at Canvas Prints Australia.
Further reading: Explore Hiroshige’s prints at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, discover Japanese woodblock art at the Smithsonian, learn about ukiyo-e at the Tate, read about Japanese art history at ARTnews, and explore Asian art at the National Gallery of Australia.