Artwork
東海道五十三次 箱根 夜中松明とり|Hakone
東海道五十三次 箱根 夜中松明とり|Hakone is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Hiroshige. It dates from 1848 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Utagawa Hiroshige's *Hakone* is a woodblock print from his *Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō* series, created around 1848. Characteristic of the series, it is executed in ink and color on paper in a horizontal format.
Subject & Meaning
The print captures a nighttime scene of five travelers on a winding forest path near Hakone, a station along the historic Tōkaidō road. One traveler ignites a torch, while others navigate the rocky trail with bundles and lanterns, set against a tumultuous sky.
Technique & Style
Hiroshige employs bold outlines and flat colors to heighten dramatic effect. The interplay of torchlight, flickering shadows, and a swirling stormy sky imbues the scene with tension and dynamism, showcasing his mastery of atmospheric depiction.
History & Provenance
Created in the late Edo period, *Hakone* reflects Hiroshige's departure from ukiyo-e's typical urban themes, instead emphasizing landscapes along the Tōkaidō. The exact provenance of this specific print is not detailed here.
Context
Part of *The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō*, *Hakone* contributes to a broader thematic exploration of Japan's historic trade and travel route, contrasting with the prevalent urban entertainment focus of contemporary ukiyo-e.
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.
