Shinagawa- Sunrise c. 1832 - 1833

Curator: Wow, what a dreamy scene. It's making me think of childhood storybooks. Editor: Let’s delve into this captivating print now on display. We're looking at "Shinagawa – Sunrise" by Utagawa Hiroshige, created around 1832-1833. This color woodblock print, using ink and color on paper, captures a sunrise scene in Shinagawa, a bustling area of Japan. Curator: Woodblock! The colors are so gentle, so soothing. And look at all those tiny people…carrying stuff. Makes me wonder what they're hauling? Maybe my groceries? Okay, wishful thinking. Editor: Those figures indeed capture an element of labor and daily life along the Tokaido Road, the main coastal route connecting Edo (modern Tokyo) and Kyoto. Shinagawa was a post station, providing lodging and supplies for travelers. Their burdens probably speak to larger structures of socioeconomic class at that time. Curator: Structures of what now? No, seriously, I love that they are doing their thing while the sky is having this absolutely mellow moment. It feels very here and now, yet far removed. Very Zen. Did the artist do that on purpose? Make them…smaller somehow? Editor: Hiroshige masterfully employs atmospheric perspective to convey depth. Notice how the objects farther away appear fainter and less distinct. As well, considering Edo-period society with the rigid social hierarchy, the figures likely would be deprioritized against the more prominent establishment. I think your reading speaks to Hiroshige’s ability to subtly evoke the social dynamics through his use of composition. Curator: Ok, fancy words aside… It does give me a warm, cozy feeling. Maybe it’s those pink tones in the sky. And the water reflecting it all? Pure bliss. Editor: I find that Hiroshige manages to evoke a sense of peace amidst what was likely a hive of commercial activity. Curator: Well said! I might just stick around here and pretend I'm there. Editor: Me too! Let's sit with "Shinagawa - Sunrise" and contemplate the simple beauty interwoven with its historical threads. It’s a vivid portal to another time and place.