Artwork
東海道五十三次 岡部 宇津の山|Okabe
東海道五十三次 岡部 宇津の山|Okabe 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
Created circa 1840 by the ukiyo‑e master Utagawa Hiroshige, this woodblock print forms part of his celebrated series *The Fifty‑three Stations of the Tōkaidō*. Executed with ink and color on paper, the image records a segment of the historic coastal highway that linked Edo and Kyoto, illustrating the route’s mountainous terrain rather than the more typical urban scenes of the genre.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a serpentine mountain road flanked by dense foliage and rugged outcrops, with travelers in traditional attire navigating the path while bearing bundles and baskets. The depiction emphasizes the everyday labor of movement along the Tōkaidō, offering a glimpse into the practical realities of travel during the late Edo period.
Technique & Style
Hiroshige employed the standard ukiyo‑e woodblock process, carving separate blocks for line work and each color. Fine carving allowed intricate rendering of bark texture, rock fissures, and cloud patterns, while layered pigments produce subtle gradations in sky and foliage. The overall effect balances detailed observation with the flat decorative qualities characteristic of the school.
History & Provenance
The print was issued as the *Okabe* station plate within the original 1840–1842 publication of the *Fifty‑three Stations* series. Early copies circulated among travelers and collectors in Edo, and the sheet later entered Western collections during the late 19th‑early 20th‑century Japonisme craze, where it contributed to the growing appreciation of Japanese prints abroad.
Context
During the late Edo era, the Tōkaidō road was a vital artery for commerce and communication. Hiroshige’s series responded to popular demand for visual travel guides, yet he expanded the genre by focusing on natural landscapes and seasonal atmospheres, reflecting a broader cultural interest in the countryside’s aesthetic qualities.
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.
