東海道五十三次　関|Seki

Utagawa Hiroshige

ca. 1848–49 · Woodblock print; ink and color on paper · Asian Art

Seki was located where the two highways of Tokaido and Ise meet on their way to the imperial capital, Kyoto. On a snowy day, a few travelers pass the torii gate, probably marking the pilgrim's route to Ise. Rendered in a range of white and grayish blue, with only a few accents of red, the color scheme tightens the composition. By contrast, the scene of Seki in the Hoeido series represents a daimyo procession leaving the inn still in the dark.

Artist

Utagawa Hiroshige

Date

ca. 1848–49

Medium

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

The Francis Lathrop Collection, Purchase, Frederick C. Hewitt Fund, 1911