Utagawa (Ando) Hiroshige, "Station 52: Kusatsu"

Located in Shiga Prefecture, Kusatsu is the fifty-second station of the Tokaido road connecting Kyoto to Edo (modern-day Tokyo). In this print from Hiroshige's Hoiedo edition of his famous “53 Stations of the Tokaido" series of woodblock prints, we see a busy stand making and selling ubagamochi, a sweet sticky rice cake. In the foreground, we see passengers crossing paths in a kago (palenquin).

Series: 53 Stations of the Tokaido
Date 1833-34
Size: Oban
Publisher: Hoeido/Senkakudo
Condition: Faint centerfold, light matburn, otherwise excellent color and condition

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) is the most important Japanese artist to emerge from Edo period ukiyo-e. Hiroshige is a widely recognized master of Japanese woodblock prints whose works have had a tremendous influence on artistic currents throughout the world. His woodblock prints are highly coveted by collectors and museums around the world.