東海道五十三次之内 草津|Kusatsu Station
ca. 1842
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
8 27/32 x 13 1/2 in. (22.5 x 34.3 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1918
Accession Number
JP579
Tags
Art Historical Context
**Kusatsu Station from *The Fifty-three Stations of Tōkaidō*** Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), a master of ukiyo-e woodblock prints, created this vibrant scene around 1842 as part of his renowned series depicting the 53 post stations along Japan's historic Tōkaidō road, which connected Edo (modern Tokyo) to Kyoto. During the Edo period (1615–1868), this coastal route was a vital artery for travelers, merchants, and samurai, restricted to foot or palanquin travel under the shogunate's policies. Hiroshige's series captured the romance of the journey, blending everyday life with stunning landsca...
About the Artist
Utagawa Hiroshige · 1826–1869
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), born Andō Tokutarō, was the last great master of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock printmaking and one of the most influential landscape artists in history. Born in Edo (modern Tokyo) into a low-ranking samurai family serving as fire wardens, Hiroshige transformed landscape printmaking into a poetic meditation on nature, weather, and everyday life. His revolutionary approac...