Maisaka, from the series "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido (Tokaido gojusan tsugi)"

Art Historical Context

Katsushika Hokus (1760–1849), one of Japan's most celebrated ukiyo-e masters, created *Maisaka*, from his iconic series *Fifty-three Stations the Tōkaidō (Tōkaidō gojūsan tsugi)* around 1806. This color woodblock print captures one of the 53 post stations along the historic Tōkaidō road, the vital coastal route connecting Edo (modern Tokyo) to Kyoto during the Edo period (1603–1868). Hokusai's series, first published in 1804–1806, revolutionized landscape printmaking by blending everyday travelers, dramatic scenery, and poetic vignettes, making grand journeys accessible to commoners. Printed in the compact chuban format (about 24 × 18.3 cm), *Maisaka* exemplifies Hokusai's virtuoso woodblock technique. Artisans carved separate blocks for each color—often up to 10 or more—allowing vibrant blues, greens, and reds to layer precisely by hand. This labor-intensive process democratized art, as affordable prints adorned homes and fueled Japan's "floating world" culture of entertainment and travel lore. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this print highlights Hokusai's influence on global art, inspiring Western Impressionists like Monet and Van Gogh. It evokes the thrill of pilgrimage and commerce on Japan's ancient highways, inviting viewers to imagine weary samurai and merchants pausing at Maisaka's shores.

About the Artist

Katsushika Hokusai · 1760–1849

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) stands as one of history's most influential artists, a Japanese master who revolutionized the ukiyo-e woodblock print tradition and profoundly shaped Western art. Born in the Katsushika district of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to an artisan family, Hokusai lived through nearly nine decades of extraordinary creative evolution, adopting over thirty different artistic names t...