THE FIFTY-THREE STATIONS OF THE TOKAIDO, "FUJIYEDA " (STATION 23) c. 19th century

Curator: I find this scene so inviting. It's "Fujiéda, Station 23" from Hiroshige’s *Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō* series. A woodblock print, now held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The entire scene kind of funnels the gaze forward, doesn't it? Like a secret path. Curator: Hiroshige masterfully uses the Tokaido road as a metaphor. It’s not just a physical route but represents life's journey, laden with symbolism of nature's influence on human experience. Editor: Absolutely, the travelers and burdened carrier along the road underscore a kind of perpetual motion. It feels less about destination and more about being on your way. Curator: Note how the colors, particularly the blues and greens, are imbued with emotional weight. This speaks to the cultural memory of the Tōkaidō as both a source of beauty and hardship. Editor: Thinking about that journey now I feel a sense of tranquility and adventure. It's a lovely contradiction.