Station 35: Yoshida

Category

Library Item

Item no

16282

Title

Fifty-three stations by two brushes (Sohitsu gojusantsugi). Station 35: Yoshida

Description

In this print, a man and woman sit closely together on the floor. The man rests one hand on his topknot and wears a sad expression. He is elegantly dressed in a blue-grey kimono with a purple and brown sleeveless, broad-shouldered tunic (kataginu). The woman wears an ornate grey and white long sleeved (furisode) kimono patterned with a hexagonal repeat motif and blue and yellow flower heads. There are large golden tassels attached to the openings of her sleeves and she wears a red underkimono. Her red and white patterned obi belt is tied at the front indicating that she is a courtesan. The woman may have borrowed the simple purple cord that she wears in her hair from her lover. In her hand she holds a blue folding fan and gestures towards something before her. In the left corner of the print stands an ornate light with a red lacquer frame.
These characters may refer to the kabuki play 'Kuruwa Bunsho', also titled 'Yoshidaya'. This play explores the relationship between a wealthy merchant's son, Fujiya Izaemon, and a high-ranking courtesan, Ogiya Yugiri. Izaemon is disinherited when his father makes the discovery that his son has been squandering money in the pleasure district. Penniless, Izaemon can no longer meet with his lover, Yugiri. It was a dramatic convention to portray Yugiri wearing a purple headband knotted at the side to signify her lovesick state of mind.
In the background print, Hiroshige presents a view of the Toyokawa Bridge, boats at sail on the river and a distant view of Mount Horaiji. Yoshida was well known for its busy town and brothels.
In Hiroshige's Hoeido Tokaido series, men are pictured at work on the construction of a castle that is surrounded by scaffolding. The long arc of the Toyokawa Bridge and the distant holy mountain are again represented.

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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Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Fans

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Hairstyles

Clothing and dress > Garments > Kimonos

Landscape > Land > Mountains

Landscape > Water > Rivers and streams

People > Adults > Men

People > Adults > Women

Places > Asia > Japan

Sport and leisure > Activities > Sitting

Transport > Infrastructure > Wooden bridges

Transport > Water > Boats

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