Kusatsu c. 1840 - 1842

This woodblock print, "Kusatsu," was created by Utagawa Hiroshige in the 19th century, as part of a series illustrating the journey along the Tokaido road. Here, the bustling scene of Kusatsu comes alive through a focus on labor. We see figures shouldering large, round burdens. What are they carrying? Are they pilgrims, vendors, or something else? The image evokes the myth of Atlas, eternally bearing the weight of the heavens. In Kusatsu, we see a terrestrial echo of this celestial burden, a reflection of human labor and endurance. This echoes images of Saint Christopher, bearing Christ across the river, a visual motif that encapsulates themes of burden, duty, and spiritual transformation. This image is part of an endless cyclical return. The weight of labor, the journey, the human spirit--these are enduring symbols, resurfacing across time and cultures. They connect the earthly and the divine through their sheer repetition and the powerful emotions they evoke.