De pleisterplaats Sakanoshita 1835 - 1845

This small woodblock print, "The Sakanoshita Resting Place" by Utagawa Kunisada, presents a scene rich with symbolic and cultural undertones. The print depicts an exhausted pilgrim being tended to by two figures. Here, the gesture of physical comfort—the wiping of sweat—transcends mere practicality. It echoes across time with depictions of the Virgin Mary wiping the face of Christ, or Buddha’s followers attending to his needs. Such motifs appear in various cultures, representing compassion and care. Through Kunisada's lens, the viewer is invited to contemplate the cycle of human vulnerability and support. The act of providing care, deeply rooted in our collective memory, stirs profound emotions. It is here where this image becomes more than just a representation of a scene. Kunisada taps into something primal. This humble woodblock thus links the weary traveler on the Tokaido road to a broader, universal narrative.