Het verwisselen van kruiers en paarden te Fujieda 1828 - 1835

Utagawa Hiroshige's woodblock print, "Changing Porters and Horses at Fujieda," offers us a glimpse into 19th-century Japan. Hiroshige, working in the Edo period, captured everyday life with a unique sensitivity. Here, we see the social dynamics of travel, with figures from different social strata interacting at a staging post. While wealthier travelers might have enjoyed more comfortable amenities, the print also foregrounds the labor of the working class. Notice the almost bare-bodied porters, their physical toil contrasting with the more formally dressed merchants and officials. What does it mean to see such explicit representations of labor? How does Hiroshige engage with the social realities of his time, showing the hierarchies and dependencies inherent in travel and trade? The emotional heart of this work lies, perhaps, in its unvarnished depiction of daily life. It's an image that invites us to reflect on the lives of those whose stories are often overlooked.