Kanagawa, bergopwaarts 1828 - 1835

Utagawa Hiroshige created this woodblock print called ‘Kanagawa, bergopwaarts’ in nineteenth-century Japan, a time when urban culture flourished alongside strict social hierarchies. This print is part of a series known as ‘Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road’. It reflects the intersection of commerce, travel, and class distinctions in Edo-period Japan. We see travelers on a road that winds past modest buildings; commoners going about their daily lives. In contrast, boats glide across the water, hinting at connections to other regions, other ways of life. Hiroshige was a master of capturing the atmosphere of a place. The soft colors evoke a sense of tranquility, while the careful composition draws our eye along the road, inviting us to imagine our journey. Through this work, we see not just a landscape but also glimpse the dynamics of a society on the move, shaped by trade and bound by social custom.