53 Stations of the Tokaido c. 19th century

Curator: This is one of Utagawa Hiroshige's "53 Stations of the Tokaido," created during his lifetime, before his death in 1858. The composition is quite striking. It almost feels like a stage set. Editor: Indeed. The figures seem intentionally placed. What is the materiality of this piece? Curator: It’s a woodblock print, which means careful carving, layering of ink, and the labor of multiple artisans were all essential to its creation and distribution. Editor: I wonder about the narratives of travel and labor embedded in this image. Who were the people on this road, and what were the economic and political systems that shaped their journeys? The travelers, the roadside rest stops... Curator: And how such readily available artworks affected public perception of geography and social mobility. Editor: The artwork really prompts us to think about the circulation of people and images. Curator: Absolutely. It reveals how the labor of creation shaped culture. Editor: A rich intersection between art, labor, and society.