THE FIFTY-THREE STATIONS OF THE TOKAIDO "YOKKAICHI : MIYEGAWA" (STATION 44) c. 19th century

Curator: Hiroshige's woodblock print, "Yokkaichi: Miyegawa," captures a scene from the Tokaido road, a vital route connecting Edo and Kyoto. What strikes you first about it? Editor: The vulnerability, definitely. The traveler scrambling after his hat against that vast landscape...it speaks to the precariousness of journeys, both literal and metaphorical. Curator: The Tokaido was a powerful symbol, used to illustrate the government's presence, and also was a source of anxiety for normal people. Editor: Absolutely, it's more than just a picturesque view; the loss of the hat hints at disruption to that symbolism, perhaps to the human experience. Curator: And the other traveler, almost like a ghost, is the counterpoint. His path is steady and unencumbered. Editor: A visual reminder that journeys are deeply personal. Hiroshige has packed so much narrative tension into a seemingly simple scene! I find that so moving. Curator: It's a potent reminder of how deeply embedded history and meaning can be within a single image. Editor: Indeed. The symbol of a lost hat adds another layer to this beautiful work.