Scenes from the Tokaido c. 19th century

This print, possibly by Hokei, captures scenes along the Tokaido Road with figures and horses rendered in muted tones. The horse, here a beast of burden, recalls its rich symbolism in diverse cultures. Consider the horses of Saint Mark's Basilica, Venice, their Hellenistic forms repurposed to symbolize Christian triumph. Here, the horse evokes not martial power but the everyday journey. The journey motif reminds us of how symbols endure and evolve. In ancient Greece, Hermes was the divine messenger, and today the messenger is the means by which human connection is created. The image presents a dreamlike state of the world. This emotional power has served to captivate the human psyche and engage viewers on a deep, subconscious level, as the horse is passed down through history, shifting in meaning. The journey, the horse, the traveler—each resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings, revealing the cyclical dance of cultural memory.