No. 51 "Minakuchi: Famous Dried Gourd Shavings from the series Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido

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No. 51

Item Info

Item No: facjp00059
Title: No. 51 "Minakuchi: Famous Dried Gourd Shavings from the series Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido
Media Type: Woodcuts
Source: Print and Picture Collection
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 51

Minakuchi: Famous Dried Gourd Shavings.  Although the inns here were famous for serving loach soup (dojojiru) the year round, Hiroshige was obviously more interested in another food for which the station was known, and indeed it does seem to offer greater pictoral possibilities. This is kampyo dried shavings of gourd, which is used in a number of Japanese dishes. Hiroshige's print shows, at left, three women preparing the strips, while other strips are drying on the right. The station, some six miles from Tsuchiyama, is reached after a walk along the Yokota River.


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



Creation Year: ca. 1833
Image Dimensions Width: 22.2 cm
Call Number: Woodblock Prints - The Fifty-three Stations of the T?kaid? Road
Creator Name: Hiroshige, Utagawa, 1797-1858 - Artist

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