Miyanokoshi, Station 37 from the series "Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaidō" (Kisokaidō rokujÅ«kyÅ«tsugi no uchi) c. 1839

Curator: This woodblock print is titled "Miyanokoshi, Station 37," from Utagawa Hiroshige's series "Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaido." Editor: I'm struck by the muted palette and the overall sense of tranquility. The cool blues and greens create a rather serene atmosphere. Curator: The figures crossing the bridge become wayfarers on life's journey. Bridges often symbolize transitions, linking the known with the unknown, doesn't it? Editor: The perspective is interesting; it flattens the landscape, almost abstracting the trees into shapes. Note how the texture of the paper affects the color values. Curator: That's right. The full moon in the upper right, it's an old symbol of enlightenment and reflection. It illuminates not just the scene but also our inner selves. Editor: The composition is elegantly balanced between the near and far spaces, and the darks and lights. The subtle gradations, the artist’s control is fantastic. Curator: Hiroshige masterfully uses visual symbols to evoke a sense of place and time, but more importantly, our shared human experience. Editor: It is quite a compelling print. I appreciate the new perspectives it has given us.