Landschappen langs de Tokaido 1820 - 1858

Editor: We're looking at "Landschappen langs de Tokaido" by Utagawa Hiroshige, created sometime between 1820 and 1858. It's a print made with ink and watercolor on paper, currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. The aged cover has such a somber and delicate mood. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: Well, immediately I see a book, which in itself has had a place within history. As such, it would've occupied and perhaps dictated socio-political moments; shaping narratives while representing cultural and institutional norms. For Utagawa Hiroshige, how does this work solidify landscape and themes within Japanese culture? Editor: I see the cover’s spine is vulnerable to falling apart with threads holding all of the folios together. What influence did the choice of medium have? And was there a market for printed books, allowing for accessible and wide distribution of landscapes during that time? Curator: Excellent observations! The fragility is inherent to the materials and process. Ukiyo-e prints, like these, catered to a burgeoning merchant class. They fueled a demand for images of travel, leisure, and depictions of a rapidly changing Japan. Landscape became a commodity and shaped national identity. Do you see the political implications there? Editor: So, by circulating these idealized landscapes, the artist and publishers weren’t just selling art, but were involved in constructing a vision of Japan itself! Almost a form of branding, in a way? Curator: Precisely! The very act of producing and consuming these prints highlights how art functions as a social and political force. Now what kind of forces are present today? Editor: Wow, it really makes you think about the power dynamics behind even seemingly simple landscape prints! It is incredible. Thank you for expanding my understanding! Curator: My pleasure. This helps us understand the layers that influence art creation. It is powerful.