Artwork

Odawara Station: Minamoto Yoritomo Visits the Daughter of Ito Nyudo (from the series Fifty-three Paired Illustrations for the Tokaido)

Odawara Station: Minamoto Yoritomo Visits the Daughter of Ito Nyudo (from the series Fifty-three Paired Illustrations for the Tokaido) is a print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi. It dates from 1844 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This print is one of a series by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, created around 1844, depicting scenes from the Tokaido, a major Japanese road. It is currently held at The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The print illustrates a historical scene: Minamoto Yoritomo's visit to the daughter of Ito Nyudo, set in a serene winter garden at Odawara Station. Two women are shown, one standing and one seated, amidst falling snow and pine trees, suggesting a moment of quiet contemplation.

Technique & Style

The composition features intricate details, including the texture of the women's robes and the snow. The use of bold colors, such as red and blue, contrasts with more subdued tones, like gray. Japanese text is incorporated into the design, adding to the overall narrative.

Artist & collection

Artist

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Kuniyoshi grew up in old Tokyo when the city was still called Edo. His dad ran a silk shop, but Kuniyoshi loved anything with pictures—scrolls, screens, comic books. He talked his way into the Utagawa school, a kind of…