The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido: Hara c. 1850

Utagawa Hiroshige made this print, ‘Hara,’ as part of his series, *The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido*. It was made using woodblock printing, a demanding process that begins with drawing and carving a design into a block of wood. Different blocks are used for each color, and then carefully printed in layers onto paper. The materiality of the printmaking process influences how we perceive the artwork, from the texture of the paper to the flat, graphic shapes that Hiroshige uses to define form. The texture and grain of the woodblock become part of the image. The print is a product of skilled labor, a testament to the traditional craft practices involved in its creation. Hiroshige worked collaboratively with woodblock cutters and printers, all experts in their field. The process of making the prints was painstaking, involving many stages. Considering the amount of work involved, we can appreciate the complex history of this beautiful, mass-produced image.