No. 52 c. 1835 - 1838

Utagawa Hiroshige created this woodblock print, “No. 52,” which captures the scenery around the Kanaya and Nissaka stations, along the Tōkaidō road. This series gives insight into the artist’s world and the social dynamics of 19th-century Japan. The figures rendered in this image are archetypes of travelers on this main thoroughfare: a porter, a samurai. Hiroshige’s keen eye emphasizes the realities of travel, like physical labor, and highlights a range of social identities. The landscape itself, with its serene waters and distant mountains, reinforces a sense of journey. The Tōkaidō road itself was a nexus of commerce and culture. “No. 52” illustrates the exchange between people of different social strata. Hiroshige’s work invites us to reflect on themes of connection, movement, and the shared human experience.