Narumi: Shops Selling the Famous Tie-dyed Fabric (Narumi, meisan shibori mise)—No. 41, from the series "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido (Tokaido gojusan tsugi)," also known as the Reisho Tokaido
c. 1847/52
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Dimensions
25.7 × 38.2 cm (10 1/8 × 15 1/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
18324
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
In Utagawa Hiroshige captivating woodblock print *Narumi: Shops Selling Famous Tie-dyed Fabric No. 41 from renowned series *Fifty-three of the Tokaido* (c. 1847–52), visitors glimpse a bustling scene at the 41st station along Japan's historic Tokaido road. vital route connected Edo (modern Tokyo) to Kyoto during the Edo period (1603–1868), serving samurai, merchants, and pilgrims Hiroshige, a master of the ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world") school, immortalized these post towns, blending everyday life with poetic landscapes to evoke the journey's rhythm and regional specialties—like Narumi's signature shibori tie-dye fabrics, proudly displayed in lively shops. The print's oban format (25.7 × 38.2 cm) allowed for vivid detail in this color woodblock technique, where intricate carvings on multiple cherry wood blocks were inked and overlaid to produce rich, layered hues. Hiroshige's signature style shines through in his atmospheric perspective and subtle gradations, capturing the town's energy amid misty hills and travelers. Produced in large editions for affordable enjoyment, these prints fueled a tourism craze, making distant locales feel intimate and accessible. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this work exemplifies how ukiyo-e bridged art and commerce, preserving Japan's cultural tapestry for global audiences today.
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...