TOKAIDO GOJU-SAN-TSUGI c. 19th century

Editor: This woodblock print, "Tokiado Goju-San-Tsugi," by Utagawa Hiroshige, shows a long bridge with figures crossing it, and boats below. I'm struck by how the artist uses such simple materials to convey so much about movement and labor. What do you make of it? Curator: Hiroshige's prints were commercial products, meant for a growing merchant class eager to experience the famed Tokaido Road vicariously. How does the print’s mass production and distribution affect your understanding of its artistic value and purpose? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't considered the impact of mass production. It shifts the focus from individual artistic expression to broader cultural consumption, doesn't it? Curator: Exactly. Considering the materials and mode of production allows us to understand the artwork in its complete social and economic context. Editor: I see, thanks.