No. 44, Magome Station 

Keisai Eisen created this woodblock print, No. 44, Magome Station, in Japan during the late Edo period. It is part of a series depicting the post stations along the Nakasendō highway. The print captures a moment of travel and labor. We see figures traversing a steep mountain path, some on foot carrying heavy loads, another riding a pack animal. The landscape is rugged, emphasizing the challenges of travel. The Nakasendō connected Edo, modern-day Tokyo, with Kyoto, and was crucial for trade, government communication, and cultural exchange. Understanding this print requires considering the complex socio-political context of the Edo period. The Tokugawa shogunate enforced a rigid social hierarchy and controlled travel. Woodblock prints like this one, mass-produced and relatively affordable, offered a glimpse into the wider world for those confined by social status. The historian can use travel diaries, government records, and other prints from this period to enrich our understanding of this artwork, and of the world it depicts.