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Station 11: Hakone

Kunisada I (Toyokuni III), 1854, Wood cut
Station 11: Hakone
Station 11: Hakone
Station 11: Hakone
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Category
Library Item
Item no
16397
Title
Fifty-three stations by two brushes (Sohitsu gojusantsugi). Station 11: Hakone
Description
In this print Kunisada depicts a female character pulling along a cart upon which her male companion is seated cross-legged. The woman is wearing a purple and black outerkimono with a white wave design over a red and blue under garment. The man on the wooden cart wears a blue kimono with yellow and black woven check panels at the shoulders and neckline. He holds up a lantern with one hand and grips the back of the trolley with the other hand. These characters are Hatsuhana and Linuma Katsugoro from the kabuki play 'Hakone Reigen Izari no adauchi' and this image is similar to the Hakone edition of Kunisada's Tokaido diptych series that was published in 1852 by Iseya.
In the play the character of Katsugoro is searching for Sato Gosuke, the man who killed his brother. However, while on the road Katsugoro is crippled and has to be pulled along on a wooden cart by his dutiful wife. He confronts his enemy at Hakone but Katsugoro is easily overpowered and his wife captured. When Hatsuhana prays at a sacred waterfall Katsugoro's strength is miraculously restored, enabling him to exact vengeance on his sworn enemy.
In the background panel is Hiroshige's depiction of the hills of Hakone - a harsh, mountainous region that presented travellers with the most challenging part of their journey. Three travellers are shown making their way across a bridge over a river. The Hoeido print by Hiroshige emphasises the height of the mountains and the steepness of the narrow, winding road. The experience of crossing this mountain pass would have been daunting to most travellers.
Artist / maker
Kunisada I (Toyokuni III)
Engraver
Hori Take (Yokogawa Takejiro)
Date
1854
Size
36 x 24.8 cm
Type
Location
Art and Design Library
Rights and purchasing
Option
Price
Digital FileElectronic file 72 dpi JPEG
£5.80(inc. VAT 20%)
Digital FileElectronic File 300 dpi TIFF
£29.40(inc. VAT 20%)
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