TOKAIDO GOJU-SAN-TSUGI c. 19th century

Editor: This is Utagawa Hiroshige's "Tokaido Goju-san-tsugi". The calm colors give me a sense of peace. What can you tell me about its historical context? Curator: Considering Japan's historical context, the Tokaido road connected Edo (Tokyo) to Kyoto, enabling the Shogun's control. How do you view this print as a symbol of power or perhaps, resistance? Editor: Resistance? I hadn't thought of that. I guess the focus on everyday life could be a subtle form of defiance against centralized authority? Curator: Exactly! Hiroshige's art democratized landscape, shifting the artistic focus to the lives of ordinary people, challenging the elite's dominance in artistic representation. Editor: That's fascinating. It really changes how I see the print. Thanks! Curator: It's been a pleasure. I hope this has offered a new lens through which you can understand the social and political context of art.