British Museum presents ’Hiroshige: artist of the open road’

From May 1 to September 7, 2025, the British Museum presents an exhibition focusing on Utagawa Hiroshige and his lasting influence.

Source: British Museum · Image: Utagawa Hiroshige, “Sudden Shower over Shin-Ōhashi Bridge and Atake” (detail)

Born into a humble home during an unsettled time in Japan’s history, Utagawa Hiroshige (1797– 1858) went on to become one of Japan’s most talented, prolific and popular artists.

His calm artistic vision of Japan connected with – and sustained – people at every level of society through uncertain times. From fashionable figures and energetic city views to glimpses of the natural world, Hiroshige captured many aspects of Japanese life. Stunning flower-and-bird prints show Hiroshige’s poetic feeling for nature while his evocative landscapes reflected the growing interest in travel across Japan and showed his world not merely as it was, but the way it might be.

Possessed of remarkable technical skills – both as a colourist and draftsman – Hiroshige’s work also shows a sympathetic regard for people from all walks of life, and sensitivity to the rhythms of nature.

The exhibition will explore Hiroshige’s art and legacy through a significant gift and loan of prints from a major US collector of Hiroshige’s work, as well as prints, drawings, illustrated books and paintings from the British Museum collection, and additional important loans.

The exhibition is the first of Hiroshige to be held at the British Museum and the first on the artist in London for more than a quarter of a century.