Station 20 -- FuchÅ«, from the Reisho Tōkaidō series published by Marusei c. 1850

Editor: Here we have Utagawa Hiroshige's "Station 20 -- FuchÅ«, from the Reisho Tōkaidō series." It looks like a bustling street scene. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Hiroshige’s prints weren't just picturesque landscapes, they were social commentaries. The figures, the classes represented – the samurai on horseback, the commoners – all highlight the rigid social structure of Edo Japan. How does the composition reinforce that hierarchy, do you think? Editor: Well, the samurai is elevated, both by class and literally on horseback, overlooking the others. Curator: Exactly. Hiroshige's work gives us a glimpse into the power dynamics of the time, reflecting both its beauty and inherent inequalities. It makes you consider who has the privilege of movement and leisure. Editor: I never thought of it that way. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Art is a mirror reflecting society, and in this case, its structures of power.