Artwork
東海道五十三次 藤澤|Fujisawa
東海道五十三次 藤澤|Fujisawa is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This woodblock print, *Fujisawa*, is part of Utagawa Hiroshige's renowned series *The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō*, created circa 1840. Executed in ink and color on paper, it captures a scene from a specific stop along the historic Tōkaidō road.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a bustling gathering of people in traditional attire at a roadside location, with elements like lanterns, baskets, a horse, and a person on a path conveying communal activity. A large tree and torii gate in the background add depth, set against a blue sky.
Technique & Style
Hiroshige's signature landscape style is evident in the print's atmospheric detail, characteristic of his contribution to ukiyo-e's shift towards natural and rural themes. The composition balances human activity with natural and architectural elements.
History & Provenance
Created around 1840 by Utagawa Hiroshige, a pivotal figure in late Edo period ukiyo-e, as part of a series documenting the Tōkaidō route. Specific provenance details for this *Fujisawa* print are not provided.
Context
Part of a broader artistic movement, *Fujisawa* reflects Hiroshige's innovative focus on landscapes and travel scenes, diverging from ukiyo-e's traditional emphasis on urban life and entertainment.
Artist & collection
Artist
Utagawa Hiroshige (歌川 広重) or Andō Hiroshige (安藤 広重), born Andō Tokutarō (安藤 徳太郎; 1797 – 12 October 1858), was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist, considered the last great master of that tradition.
