Item Info

Media Type: Woodcuts
Source: Print and Picture Collection
Notes:

"...the scenery itself is probably Hiroshige's own invention. The placement of the procession of travelers, of the tall cedars, and of the river is geometrically unbalanced, but the picture is brought tightly together by the color values. The contrast between the indigo of the river, and the red and green raincoats of the travelers is particularly beautiful. This is one of the four or five most highly treasured prints in the Tokaido series."

from "The Fifty-Three Stages of the Tokaido by Hiroshige", Tokyo, Japan. Heibonsha Ltd., Publishers, 1960. plate 50

https://catalog.freelibrary.org/Record/125651

Notes:

"In the early 1830's, Hiroshige's first landscape prints appeared. He subsequently became the leading landscape artist and was especially known for his series on the Tokaido highway that connected Edo (present day Tokyo) with Kyoto. The earliest and most famous of these, generally known by the name of the publisher as 'Hoeido ban Tokaido' (Tokaido published by Hoeido), was issued from 1832-33. Hiroshige III stated sixty years later that Hiroshige's designs are after sketches he took during a journey to Kyoto, however, most of his designs are undoubtedly inspired from illustrations in guide books like the Tokaido meisho zue ('Gathering of Views of Famouse Sightss alonf the Tokaido;' 1797) and even this alleged journey cannot be verified."

from "Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900", Andreas Marks. Tuttle Publishing. p.132

Notes:

note card with print

Station 50

Tsuchiyama: Spring Rain.  Between Sakanoshita and the Tsuchiyama - a distance of just under five mile - the road crossed the mountain pass of Suzuka. According to a song of the time, "The sun may be shining in the foothills, but Mount Suzuka is cloudy while Tsuchiyama is drenched with rain," suggesting that rain was by no means uncommon in Tsuchiyama. Here, in one of the finest prints, Hiroshige shows us a group of Travelers in red and green raincoats, amid tall cryptomerias, caught in the heavy downpour, which he has depicted with masterly strokes. In the first printing, the raindrops were said to have been done in white.

Bibliography:

https://catalog.freelibrary.org/Record/125651

https://catalog.freelibrary.org/Record/370941

https://catalog.freelibrary.org/Record/703108

https://catalog.freelibrary.org/Record/2030739

https://www.hiroshige.org.uk/Tokaido_Series/Tokaido_Great.htm

Call Number: Woodblock Prints - The Fifty-three Stations of the T?kaid? Road
Creator Name: Hiroshige, Utagawa, 1797-1858 - Artist