Odawara: The Sakawa River (Odawara, Sakawagawa), from the series "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road (Tokaido gojusan tsugi no uchi)," also known as the Hoeido Tokaido

Art Historical Context

Utagawa Hiroshige *Odawara: The Sak River* (c. 1833/34) is a captivating color woodblock print from the renowned Hoeido edition of *Fifty-three Stations of theōkaidō Road*. This series immortalizes the 53 post stations along the vital Tōkaidō, a bustling route connecting Edo (modern Tokyo) to Kyoto during Japan's Edo period (1603–1868). Hiroshige, a master of the ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world") tradition, captures the journey's scenic beauty and human drama, making these prints affordable souvenirs for travelers and collectors alike. In this oban-sized print (25 × 36.1 cm), Hiroshige depicts the Sakawa River near Odawara station, likely showing porters and travelers navigating its waters amid dramatic natural elements—a hallmark of his atmospheric landscapes. The medium's brilliance comes from the intricate woodblock process: carvers and printers layered up to 10 colors from separate blocks, achieving subtle gradients and vivid hues that evoke rain, mist, or twilight. This technique elevated ukiyo-e from ephemeral art to enduring masterpieces. Hiroshige's Tōkaidō series, with over 50 editions, fueled a print boom and later inspired Western artists like Vincent van Gogh. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, it offers a window into 19th-century Japan's wanderlust and artistry.

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...