東海道五十三次　掛川

Art Historical Context

Welcome to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection! This woodblock print, *Tōkaidō Gojūsan-tsugi: Kake* (The Fifty-three Stations of theōkaidō: Kakegawa), is a later edition from the early 20th century, reproducing the iconic design of Utagawa Hiroshige1797–1858). Hiroshige, a master of the ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world") tradition, created his original series in the 1830s, capturing the bustling post stations along the historic Tōkaidō highway—the vital route connecting Edo (modern Tokyo) to Kyoto during Japan's Edo period (1603–1868). These prints celebrated everyday...

About the Artist

Utagawa Hiroshige · 1826–1869

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), born Andō Tokutarō, was the last great master of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock printmaking and one of the most influential landscape artists in history. Born in Edo (modern Tokyo) into a low-ranking samurai family serving as fire wardens, Hiroshige transformed landscape printmaking into a poetic meditation on nature, weather, and everyday life. His revolutionary approac...