Akasaka: On the Nawate Road, Yajirobei Takes Kitahachi for a Fox and Beats Him (Akasaka, Nawatemichi ni te Yajirobei Kitahachi o kitsune to omohite chochaku suru) from the Series 53 Stations of the Tokaido
1797-1858
Medium
landscapes
Classification
landscapes
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of the Estate of Mrs. Robert H. Patterson
Accession Number
1941-31-232
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of 19th-century Japanese ukiyo-e prints, Ando Hiroshige (1797–1858) stands as a master of landscape artistry. This woodblock print, *Akasaka: On the Nawate Road, Yirobei Takes Kitah for a Fox and Beats*, hails from his renowned series *53 Stations of the Tōkaidō* (ca. 1833–1834). The Tōkaidō was the historic coastal road connecting Edo (modern Tokyo) to Kyoto, dotted with 53 post stations where travelers rested. Hiroshige's series captured these stops with poetic beauty, blending natural scenery, human activity, and fleeting moments of life, making art accessible to everyd...