Hiroshige 広重: Station Miya from the Figure Tokaido 宮宿

Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) 広重
Title: Station Miya 宮宿
Series: Fifty-three Stations [of the Tôkaidô Road] (Gojusan tsugi); Also known as the Jinbutsu, or Figure Tokaido 五十三次
Date: 1852

A woman and her young companion set forth with optimistic mien, perhaps towards the famous Atsuta Imperial shrine, a popular pilgrimage destination during the Edo period. Behind them is a bright orange torii, created with an overlay of lead orange pigment for verisimilitude. We also see sailboats on the Bay of Ise in the background.  Miya was the 42nd station on the Tokaido, and was also part of  two other important travel routes. As such it had many inns and traveler amenities. Hiroshige produced more than three dozen Tokaido series following the success of the Hoeido Tokaido in 1833. This one is known as the “Figure Tokaido” or the “Mankind’ Tokaido”, as the individuals feature prominently, rather than being background players to the landscape as with most of his other Tokaido series.

Dimensions: chûban 24.5 x 17.5 
Publisher: Muraichi
Signature: Hiroshige ga
Literature: See the Art Institute of Chicago online, MFA.
Condition: Very good impression, color and condition. Backed. Minor smudges.

SKU: HIR522