Series; Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido
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.
The Ishiyakushi Temple at Ishiyakushi - Handsome scene of the road leading into the village of Ishiyakushi, which developed around the old temple of Ishiyakushi. Many worshippers came to visit a stone statue of the Buddha Yakushi housed in the temple. The town is nestled along the foot of the mountain with the temple among the trees at left. Farmers work in the fields at right as two porters carry a load along the trail. Nicely detailed with shading in the mountains and sky.
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 3/4" x 13 3/4" + margins as shown
Condition - Excellent with no issues to report.
