Nihonbashi - #1 of the Fifty-three Stages of the Tokaido Road series

Print

-

Calvin University Center Art Gallery

This image is a traditional Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print depicting a bustling street scene with numerous people engaged in various activities, such as walking, carrying goods, and interacting with one another, against the backdrop of a bridge and traditional buildings.

This image is a traditional Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print depicting a bustling street scene with numerous people engaged in various activities, such as walking, carrying goods, and interacting with one another, against the backdrop of a bridge and traditional buildings.

Name/Title

Nihonbashi - #1 of the "Fifty-three Stages of the Tokaido Road" series

Entry/Object ID

1975.2.1.1

Description

This print shows the vanguard of a daimyo’s retinue in the early morning at the ”Bridge of Japan”: the starting point of the Tokaido and the place from which distances to all parts of Japan were reckoned. View looking across Nihon Bridge, Edo, from whence all distances were measured with a daimyo's cortège coming into view over the summit. In the foreground is a group of five fish-vendors (and a sixth partly hidden) getting out of the way, on the left, and two dogs on the right. This bridge was located in the centre of Edo and was the starting point of the Tokaido Highway. This is the second edition of the Nihombashi print. The block was recut to show an assorted crowd which included fish peddlers at the foot of the bridge and the dogs or puppies in the center with some children near them.

Type of Print

Woodcut

Category

Vault, People, Japanese, Architecture
Ethnic

Made/Created

Artist

Utagawa Hiroshige

Date made

circa 1860

Dimensions

Dimension Description

image size

Height

8-3/4 in

Width

14 in

Dimension Description

frame size

Height

16 in

Width

21 in

Exhibitions

Permanent Collection - Center Art Gallery: summer 1975
Loan - Japanese Prints @ Muskegon Hackley Museum of Art: 1976
Permanent Collection - Center Art Gallery: summer 1980
Permanent Collection - Center Art Gallery: summer 1989
Permanent Collection - Center Art Gallery: summer 1998
Loan - Japanese Prints @ Dordt College Gallery 6/28/04-10/16/04
Striking Impressions – Center Art Gallery January 7 - February 22, 2014
Loan - Japanese Prints @ Woodlawn CRC Ministry Center, June 1 - October 4, 2014