TOKAIDO GOJU-SAN-TSUGI c. 19th century

Curator: This is Utagawa Hiroshige's TOKAIDO GOJU-SAN-TSUGI, a woodblock print that presents a scene along the famous Tokaido Road. The Harvard Art Museums is its current home. Editor: It's breathtaking! The serene blue of the water and sky really creates a sense of peacefulness, despite all the activity. Curator: Indeed. These prints were quite popular, offering a glimpse into the various stations along the route connecting Edo, modern-day Tokyo, and Kyoto. They reflect Japan's growing mercantile culture. Editor: The boats are so evocative; they conjure feelings of transition and travel, but also trade and the movement of ideas across the country. I wonder about the people in them. Curator: Precisely. Woodblock prints democratized art, making landscapes accessible to a wider public and contributing to a shared national identity. Editor: The soft color palette is so soothing. I notice Mount Fuji in the background. It reinforces a sense of familiarity. Curator: And it's that blend of the everyday with iconic symbols that cemented these images in the cultural consciousness. Editor: It's fascinating how a seemingly simple image captures such a complex moment in history. Curator: Absolutely. A beautiful piece with deep cultural roots.