Item from the Mokuhankan Flea Market

Kawasaki - from the 53 Stations of the Tokaido

Size: 38.5cm by 26.0cm (15.16 in by 10.24 in) | Enlargement | Shipping Code: [L] ?

Designer: Ando Hiroshige

Era: Taisho | Currency: $ / £ / €

Price: ¥ 8,500$ 66.00£ 57.50€ 66.75 [Item has been sold]

Description: This is a print from what is perhaps the single most famous series of Japanese woodblock prints ever produced - "The 53 Stations of the Tokaido", designed by Hiroshige in the 1830s.

Unlike the reproduction prints in the post-war period we usually have, this print is made in the Taisho era (1912~1926).

This print is the representation of Kawasaki-juku, the third station, as depicted in the Hōeidō edition. This station was located near Daishi Heiken-ji, a famous Buddhist temple, so it was often used by travelers coming to pray.

In the foreground, we can perceive some passengers in a small wooden boat crossing the Tama River and some more waiting on the other bank. Women are wearing traditional kimonos and men traditional Japanese straw hats (kasa). They all seem to be having a good time and be enjoying the travel! There are some houses and small buildings in the background which we can assume are part of the station.

Mount Fuji is depicted in the background beneath a clear blue sky which is illustrated in Hiroshige’s distinctive style of a deep bokashi gradation of black ink and Prussian blue. At the same time, another bokashi of orange and yellow is coming from the base of Mount Fuji suggesting a sunset.

All the elements here depicted invite to a careful observation, suddenly we get trapped inside the scene making Hiroshige’s purpose of showing a moment in everyday life at that time a great success.

This print is toned overall. Also, there are some chiri (mulberry bark scraps) at the upper part and a pinhole at the bottom left part.

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