Hiroshige

1890 · B6305 — Japan. c.1890. A very good example of this beautifully designed book. . Binding: period soft paper wrapper. Notes: The Fifty-Three Stations of the TÅkaidÅ is a series of ukiyo-e woodcut prints created by Utagawa Hiroshige after his travel along the TÅkaidÅ. The TÅkaidÅ road linking the shÅgun's capital Edo to the imperial one KyÅto was the main travel and transport artery of old Japan. It is also the most important of the "Five Roads" GokaidÅ—the five major roads of Japan created or developed during the Edo period to further strengthen the control of the central shogunate administration over the whole country. The Fifty-Three Stations of the TÅkaidÅ was such a popular subject that it led Hiroshige to create some 30 different series of woodcut prints on it all very different one from the other by their size Åban or chuban their designs or even their number some series include just a few prints.<br><br>Utagawa Hiroshige 1797 – 1858 was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist considered the last great master of that tradition. In terms of style Hiroshige is especially noted for using unusual vantage points seasonal allusions and striking colors. In particular he worked extensively within the realm of meisho-e pictures of famous places. During the Edo period tourism was also booming leading to increased popular interest in travel. Travel guides abounded and towns appeared along routes such as the TÅkaidÅ a road that connected Edo with Kyoto.<br><br> Size: Oblong quarto Illustration: Illustrated title and 56 full page landscape woodcut prints. Category: Book Asia Far East unknown