Hiroshige/Eisen: the sixty-nine stations of the Kisokaido

Abstract

"Reproduced from the finest surviving edition of Hiroshige and Eisen's manuscript, this book offers an unforgettable portrait of daily life in 19th century Japan. Each plate teems with characters, from beggars and brawling men to boaters and finely clothed women; and the artists' gentle humor imbues each figure with remarkable, human vitality. Behind these travellers loom castles, cities and powerful waterfalls. Readers will travel from station to station through changing seasons, rural roads and city streets, on a journey that explores every stratum of a diverse society. Commentary by Sebastian Izzard, Ph.D., accompanies each image, offering new insight into the artists' processes, and into the survival of their work. Many of the wood blocks used in printing the original Sixty-Nine Stations changed radically over the years, and Izzard addresses the protean nature of each image. He describes the artwork's survival during the dramatic social shifts and economic hardship of Hiroshige and Eisen's time, urging an appreciation for its gradual evolution. This book tells the story of a landmark, two immortal artists, and an enduring masterpiece."-- Provided by publisher.

Contents

Map of the Kisokaido -- Introduction / Sebastian Izzard -- Plates and Commentaries.