THE FIFTY-THREE STATIONS OF THE TOKAIDO, "MINAKUCH I; MEIBUTSU KAMPYO" STATION 51 c. 19th century

Editor: This is Hiroshige's "Minakuchi: Meibutsu Kampyo" from the Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido series. It seems to depict everyday life, with what looks like food being dried. What stands out to you in this image? Curator: The arrangement of kampyo—dried gourd strips—suspended on racks speaks volumes about the means of production and the labor inherent in this scene. Consider the socio-economic context: Who owned the land? Who processed the gourds? Editor: So, it’s not just a landscape, but a commentary on the local industry? Curator: Precisely. The artwork highlights material culture and consumption within a specific station along the Tokaido road. What do we see being bartered here? Editor: Now I see it as less about the journey and more about the commerce sustaining it! Curator: Indeed, challenging the traditional view of landscape art.