Picture of The Colosseum Ukiyo-e

Origin Story

When young Tokugawa, an Ukiyo-e performer, first saw the Colosseum in Rome, he was struck by its beauty. He was fascinated by the imposing walls and the columns that rose to the sky. He knew this image should be immortalized in an Ukiyo-e painting. So he decided to travel to Rome to learn more about the architecture of the Colosseum and capture its essence on canvas.


When he arrived in Rome, Tokugawa marveled at the view he had of the Colosseum from his hotel room. He spent hours each day observing and taking notes on every architectural detail he noticed. Every evening he returned to his hotel to work until late at night in order to translate what he saw into a unique work that would be worthy of the great Roman monument.


After weeks of perfecting his painting, Tokugawa was ready to show the world his vision of the Colosseum: The Utagawa Coliseum. The vibrant colors and distinctive shapes captured the essence of this grand ancient building while providing a unique personal touch that had never been seen before. The painting quickly became an international hit and inspired many other Ukiyo-e artists to create their own interpretation of the Roman Colosseum.