Sakanoshita: View of Mount Fudesute (Sakanoshita, Fudesuteyama no zu), from the series Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road (Tōkaidō gojÅ«san tsugi), also known as the Kyōka Tōkaidō c. 1840 - 1842

Curator: This print is titled "Sakanoshita: View of Mount Fudesute," part of Hiroshige's series, "Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road," now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The immediate impression is of determined travelers dwarfed by monumental terrain. The diagonal composition emphasizes the arduous journey, doesn't it? Curator: Absolutely. The Tōkaidō Road was a crucial artery connecting Edo and Kyoto, laden with cultural and political significance. The mountain looming in the distance takes on a symbolic weight. Editor: It's interesting how Hiroshige uses color and line to evoke a sense of both serenity and challenge. The almost playful depiction of the figures contrasts with the starkness of the landscape. Curator: The mountain itself, "Fudesute," translates to "discarded brush," adding another layer. It suggests a relinquishing of artistic endeavor, perhaps accepting nature's overwhelming power. Editor: A complex interplay between humanity and nature, rendered with such deceptive simplicity. It really makes you wonder about the stories of those travelers.