No. 15, Itahana, from the series The Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaidô Road (Kisokaidô rokujûkyû tsugi no uchi) 1838

Keisai Eisen created this woodblock print, "No. 15, Itahana," as part of his series depicting the sixty-nine stations of the Kisokaidō Road. At first glance, the scene is dominated by the starkness of winter, with snow-laden trees and travelers braving the cold. The bent, snow-covered pine trees symbolize resilience and endurance, echoing ancient East Asian art motifs. In Chinese painting, the pine is celebrated for its ability to withstand harsh conditions, a testament to longevity and steadfastness. We can see a similar invocation of nature's strength echoed in European Romantic paintings, where gnarled oaks stand as symbols of defiance against the elements. Consider the lonely figures making their way along the road, their hunched postures suggesting not just physical cold, but also a deeper emotional isolation. This feeling of solitude, so vividly portrayed, reverberates through the ages, reminding us of our own human struggles against the indifferent forces of nature and time. The image invites us to reflect on the eternal dance between humanity and the world around us.