Yui: Satta Peak (Yui, Satta mine), from the series Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road (Tōkaidō gojÅ«san tsugi no uchi) c. 1833 - 1834

Editor: This woodblock print is titled "Yui: Satta Peak" by Utagawa Hiroshige, part of the "Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road" series. I'm struck by the dramatic composition – the steep cliff in the foreground contrasts with the serene view of Mount Fuji. What historical context shaped Hiroshige's perspective here? Curator: Considering the Edo period and the rise of the merchant class, these landscape prints weren’t just pretty pictures, but facilitated a form of cultural tourism. They allowed people to vicariously experience the journey along the Tōkaidō Road, reflecting a desire for connection to both nature and nation. Do you think this idealized view obscures the realities of travel for the common person? Editor: That's a great point. Perhaps it presents a romanticized, almost nationalistic, narrative of travel and the landscape. Thanks, I see so much more now! Curator: Indeed, it invites us to critically consider how landscapes can be used to construct and reinforce cultural identities.