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Station 39: Okazaki
Kunisada I (Toyokuni III), 1855, Wood cut
Station 39: Okazaki
Station 39: Okazaki
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Item no
16286
Title
Fifty-three stations by two brushes (Sohitsu gojusantsugi). Station 39: Okazaki
Description
A young woman wearing a white headscarf to conceal her identity is depicted clutching the hand of an elegantly dressed young man. This is probably a scene of elopement from an unidentified kabuki play. Under the woman's head covering she wears decorative blue floral pins in her hair. The woman is dressed in a blue long sleeved (furisode) kimono with a pattern of pink cherry blossoms. This garment is fastened at the waist with a black obi belt that ties at the back. The man at her side wears a purple and white kimono patterned with his family's crest (kamon). The crest is associated with the Minamoto clan and is called Sasarindo; the design is comprised of bamboo leaves and gentian flowers. Both characters wear red underkimono and look around furtively as if trying to evade capture. The man clutches at the samurai sword tucked into his yellow obi belt sash.
In the background inset, Hiroshige depicts Yahagi Bridge spanning the Yahagi River, a distant view of Okazaki castle on the right and Mount Motoyama beyond. Hiroshige's 'Okazaki' edition for the Hoeido Tokaido series depicts a daimyo procession crossing Yahagi Bridge. Similarly, Okazaki castle and Mount Motoyama are visible in the distance in the Hoeido print. The subject matter of Kunisada and Hiroshige's edition of 'Okazaki' in the 'Fifty-three stations by two brushes' series is comparable to that of 'Tokaido Pairs' series' print. 'Tokaido Pairs' or 'Fifty-three parallels of the Tokaido' (Tokaido gojusantsugi), was a collaborative work produced by Hiroshige, Kunisada and Kuniyoshi that was published in the mid 1840s by Ibasen, Ibakiu and others.
Artist / maker
Kunisada I (Toyokuni III)
Engraver
Hori Take (Yokogawa Takejiro)
Date
1855
Size
36 x 24.8 cm
Type
Wood cut
Location
Art and Design Library
Further artist information:
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858)
Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III, 1786-1865)
Signed:
Hiroshige ga (landscape)
Toyokuni ga (figures)
Censorship seal: Aratame
Further date information:
April 1855, (Rabbit year, 4th month)
The subject matter of the 'Fifty-three stations by two brushes' series drew upon the popularity of Hiroshige's celebrated series 'Fifty-three stations of the Tokaido Road' (Tokaido gojusan tsugi no uchi); the earliest editions of which were produced between 1832 and 1834.
Both Kunisada and Hiroshige were pupils of the Utagawa School and collaborated together in order to produce a commercial hit with their 'Fifty-three stations by two brushes'. The series demonstrates Hiroshige's distinction as a landscape artist and Kunisada'a skill as a figurative artist. This series comprises of fifty-six designs (including the title page). Although there were fifty-three post stations, artists traditionally include Nihonbashi (where the Tokaido began) and Kyoto (the road's terminus). The late Edo-period audience who would have collected these lavish prints were able to make connections between the figures and the specific post stations along the Tokaido. Each character's relationship to a locality relies upon subtle references to well known legends and kabuki theatre plots. Hiroshige's original Tokaido series are also referenced in these prints.
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