No. 59 c. 1835 - 1838

Utagawa Hiroshige’s No. 59 is a woodblock print depicting a bustling scene from the Tōkaidō road, a crucial thoroughfare during the Edo period in Japan. Hiroshige’s work provides a window into the social dynamics of 19th-century Japan, capturing the everyday lives and landscapes encountered by travelers. Here we see figures of various social classes, from merchants to samurai, journeying along this vital route. Note the portrayal of labor and leisure: figures lead packhorses laden with goods, while others pause at roadside establishments, hinting at the economic and social interactions which defined the period. The arrangement invites contemplation on the relationship between movement and stillness, labor and rest, reflecting the rhythms of life along the Tōkaidō. Hiroshige captures the essence of a society in transit, offering a glimpse into the stories of those who traversed its paths. This print reflects not only a physical landscape, but also the cultural and emotional landscape of a nation on the move.