Artwork
東海道五十三次 白須賀|Shirasuka, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road
東海道五十三次 白須賀|Shirasuka, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road is an ink print by Utagawa Hiroshige. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Utagawa Hiroshige’s woodblock print Shirasuka depicts one of the stations along the historic Tōkaidō, the coastal route linking Edo (now Tokyo) with Kyoto. Executed in ink and color on paper, the image captures a tranquil evening scene where a narrow path runs beside water under a glowing sunset.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a quiet lane bordered by tall, dark trees, with a few figures, some walking, others seated beneath a vivid yellow umbrella, immersed in the fading light. The muted greens of grass and water contrast with the warm orange sky, emphasizing a moment of calm within the journey.
Technique & Style
Hiroshige employs simplified forms and a restrained palette, allowing bold blocks of color to define the landscape. The small scale of the travelers against the imposing foliage underscores the artist’s interest in integrating human activity within the broader natural environment.
History & Provenance
Created as part of Hiroshige’s celebrated series The Fifty‑three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road, the print is now part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is displayed as an example of Edo‑period ukiyo‑e landscape printing.
Context
Unlike many ukiyo‑e works that focus on urban entertainment, Hiroshige’s series concentrates on travel and scenery, documenting the varied vistas encountered along the Tōkaidō. Shirasuka reflects this emphasis, offering a serene glimpse of a rural waypoint on the route.
Artist & collection
Artist
Utagawa Hiroshige (歌川 広重) or Andō Hiroshige (安藤 広重), born Andō Tokutarō (安藤 徳太郎; 1797 – 12 October 1858), was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist, considered the last great master of that tradition.
- 東海道五十三次 四日市|Yokkaichi, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road
東海道五十三次 吉田|Yoshida, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road
東海道五十三次 白須賀|Shirasuka
東海道五十三次 鳴海|Narumi, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road
東海道五十三次之内 白須賀 汐見阪図|Shirasuka, Shio-mi Zaka
東海道五十三次 宮|Miya, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road
東海道五十三次 亀山|Kameyama, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road
東海道五十三次 白須賀 汐見坂|Shirasuke
東海道五十三次 袋井|Fukuroi, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road
東海道五十三次 御油|Goyu, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road