Hiroshige’s Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido - In 1832, Hiroshige first traveled from his home in Edo (Tokyo) to Kyoto along the Tokaido road. The journey was an eye opening and life changing experience for him. As an urban man of Edo he had experienced life mainly in the capital. He immediately returned to Edo after the trip and began his masterwork woodblock series from the sketches he had made on his journey. Hiroshige's Tokaido prints are an opportunity to be transported back in time to see this world as Hiroshige did in the shadow of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Sayo no Nakayama Mountain near Nissaka - A fantastic Hiroshige landscape from his Hoeido Tokaido. In this print, travelers stop to inspect the Night-weeping Stone, a large boulder in the middle of the road. The boulder was rumored to lie in a spot where a pregnant woman was attacked and killed by bandits. Every night, the stone was said to weep out of sorrow for the woman. Travelers pass on their way up the steep slope and mountains rise in the distance - great design.

Woodblock reprints - In the 20th century, artists and publishers collaborated to recreate famous woodblock prints for interested Japanese collectors and Westerners looking for rare designs. New blocks were made, and the prints were painstakingly printed by artisan printers in the same method as the 19th century originals - one block for each color. Woodblock reprints were an opportunity to collect and enjoy a famous design at a small fraction of the price of an original. They still are today.

Artist - Hiroshige (1797 - 1858)

Image Size - 8 7/8" x 13 3/4" + margins as shown

Condition - The print with excellent color and detail. Please see photos for details. Very nice overall.