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C1865
00 Nihonbashi the start of the Tokaido heading to Kyoto.
Magnificent woodblock by Utagawa Kunisada II (1823-1880) of Nihonbashi which was the beginning of the Tokaido* at Edo, where one headed to the first post town of Shinagawa. The print shows the shogun and his entourage crossing the Nihonbashi Bridge … Read Full Description
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Full Title:
00 Nihonbashi the start of the Tokaido heading to Kyoto.
Date:
C1865
Condition:
In good condition.
Technique:
Woodblock.
Paper Size:
241mm
x 358mm
AUTHENTICITY
Genuine antique
dated:
1865
Description:
Magnificent woodblock by Utagawa Kunisada II (1823-1880) of Nihonbashi which was the beginning of the Tokaido* at Edo, where one headed to the first post town of Shinagawa. The print shows the shogun and his entourage crossing the Nihonbashi Bridge on the start of the Tokaido with an enormous procession with numerous Uma-jirushi * flying with his mon* prominently displayed.
The views in this series depict the journey of Tokugawa Iemochi (1846-1866) the 14th shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate from Edo to Kyoto on April 22, 1863 who had been summoned by the emperor. This was the first time in 230 years that a shogun had visited Kyoto. He travelled with over 3,000 retainers as an escort and with all the pomp and ceremony that was expected of a shogun. He is seen entering the town on his horse surrounded by retinue displaying the shogun’s Uma-jirushi.
A number of artists and publishers collaborated on this series.
*Tokaido literally means, the Eastern Sea Road and was the main feudal road in Japan that ran mainly along the coast for five hundred kilometers between the capital, Edo (Tokyo), where the Shogun* lived and Kyoto, where the Emperor resided. Over time, the fifty three stations became post-towns which supplied horses, porter stations, lodgings and food for travellers.
*Uma-jirushi were massive flags used in feudal Japan to identify a daimyo or shogun.
*Mon or kamon, are Japanese emblems used to identify an individual or clan and often seen on flags, clothing or uma-jirushi.
Published date/seal: 1865 (Genji 2/ Keio 1 V)
From the series, Suehiro gojusan tsugi (Fifty-Three Stations with a Folding Fan or Fan Tokaido).
Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido ( - )
The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido, was a series of woodblock views first made famous by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1834. The Tokaido connected Edo where the shogun resided, with the then capital of Kyoto where the Emperor lived. It ran along the eastern coast of Honshu and along the road, there were 53 different post stations, which provided stables, food, and lodgings for travellers. The road ran through some of the most picturesque scenery in Japan. The series inspired generations of artists not only in Japan but in Europe.
View other items by Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido
Utagawa Kunisada II (1823 - 1880)
Utagawa Kunisada II ( 1823 - 1880) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist who took the name "Utagawa Kunisada". He headed the Utagawa school. Little is known of Kunisada II's early life. As a pupil of Utagawa Kunisada I, he signed much of his early work Kunimasa III. Kunisada I adopted him in 1846 after he married the master's daughter, Osuzu. He took the name Kunisada II c. 1850–51. He changed his name once more following his master's death to Toyokuni III. However, since there were three artists called Toyokuni before him, Kunisada II is now often known as Toyokuni IV. Kunisada II worked in the style of his master and he produced over 40 series, of actors), portraits of beauties, landscapes and erotica. He appears to have stopped making prints after 1874 and died on 20 July 1880.
