The British Museum has revealed plans for its first-ever exhibition dedicated to Japanese master artist Utagawa Hiroshige, featuring numerous prints never before displayed publicly. The exhibition, running from May 1 to September 7, 2025, will showcase the artist’s innovative approach to landscape and nature during Japan’s transformative late Edo period.
“Hiroshige: artist of the open road” will present a comprehensive look at the artist’s 40-year career through prints, paintings, books, and sketches. The exhibition has been made possible through a significant gift of 35 prints from American collector Alan Medaugh to the American Friends of the British Museum, alongside 82 additional prints on loan from his collection.
Hiroshige, who worked from 1797 to 1858, created approximately 5,000 woodblock print designs during a period of profound change in Japanese society. His work captured everyday life in Japan as the country faced modernization and Western influences, offering what exhibition curator Alfred Haft describes as “a sense of calm and balance” during uncertain times.
The exhibition will feature several rare pieces, including unique examples from his fan print series “Eight Views of Stations along the Main and Secondary Roads” (circa 1839). Visitors will also see pristine examples from his famous “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” series and his renowned “Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Highway.”
A particular highlight will be the display of Hiroshige’s bird-and-flower prints, which combine artistic elegance with Japanese poetry, reflecting the period’s high literacy rates and the deep cultural connections between nature, art, and poetry in Japanese society.
The Museum has announced that due to conservation requirements, there will be a display rotation halfway through the exhibition’s run, with the gallery closing briefly from June 30 to July 4, 2025. This measure will help preserve the light-sensitive colors in the delicate prints.
Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the British Museum, emphasized the artist’s enduring influence: “Hiroshige’s remarkable prints immortalize the unique beauty and culture of Japan, seamlessly blending emotional depth with technical brilliance. His influence endures across generations and continues to shape artists worldwide.”
Tickets for the exhibition start from £14, with free entry for under-16s when accompanied by a paying adult. The Museum will also offer special rates including 2-for-1 tickets for students on Fridays.
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