Mousepad: Cat on Window by Hiroshige 歌川広重 Mouse Mat

This image, "Asakusa Ricefields and Torinomachi Festival" (detail) was created by Japanese artist Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) in 1857. It is part of the his famous series "100 Famous Views of Edo" ("Meisho Edo Hyakkei"). Utagawa Hiroshige was one of the great masters of the Japanese ukiyo-e style of woodblock printing. He was a member of the Utagawa school, along with Kunisada and Kuniyoshi. The Utagawa school comprised dozens of artists, and stood at the forefront of nineteenth century woodblock prints. His" One Hundred Famous Views of Edo," which this image is part of, and his "The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō," greatly influenced French Impressionists such as Monet. Vincent Van Gogh copied two of the One Hundred Famous Views of Edo which were among his collection of ukiyoe prints. Hiroshige (歌川広重) was also referred to as Andō Hiroshige (安藤広重) and by the art name of Ichiyūsai Hiroshige (一幽斎廣重).