TOKAIDO GOJU-SAN-TSUGI c. 19th century

Curator: The Harvard Art Museums hold this print by Utagawa Hiroshige, titled "TOKAIDO GOJU-SAN-TSUGI." Editor: It’s striking how this image balances serenity with human activity. The landscape feels peaceful, but there are clear signs of people traversing it. Curator: Indeed. The Tokaido road was an important route. Hiroshige created many prints documenting its various stations. Note how the figures with their palanquin almost blend into the landscape. Editor: It's a powerful reminder of mobility within socio-political constraints, especially given the era's class divisions. The palanquin suggests privilege while others travel by foot. Curator: The composition also draws the eye towards Mount Fuji in the distance, a revered symbol of stability and permanence. Editor: Considering those contrasts between permanence and movement, privilege and labor, I think this print shows how art reveals the nuanced realities of its time. Curator: Absolutely. These images become documents of culture and social practice.