Station 23: Fujieda

Category

Library Item

Item no

16269

Title

Fifty-three stations by two brushes (Sohitsu gojusantsugi). Station 23: Fujieda

Description

In this print a woman is seated in a kago and is bourn along on the shoulders of palanquin bearers. She is dressed in a purple, grey and brown striped kimono and she wears a scarf over her head to keep the dust from her hair. The woman is shown emptying the tobacco from her pipe.
The palanquin bearer is dressed in a blue and white lightweight yukata and a black loincloth. His legs are bear and he wears rope sandals on his feet.
In the background inset, Hiroshige depicts travellers wading across a shallow river. One traveller leads their horse across to the not-so-distant bank. Hiroshige's Hoeido edition concentrates upon the bustle between porters and travellers as luggage is removed from horseback and taken up by couriers. However, in his other Tokaido print series he focuses upon the travellers' various methods of traversing the river.

Artist / maker

Kunisada I (Toyokuni III)

Engraver

Hori Take (Yokogawa Takejiro)

Date

1854

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:
December 1854, (Tiger year, 12th 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.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Animals > Mammals > Horses

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Pipes

Clothing and dress > Garments > Kimonos

Clothing and dress > Garments > Loin cloths

Landscape > Water > Rivers and streams

People > Adults > Men

People > Adults > Women

Places > Asia > Japan

Transport > Land > Palanquins

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