Utagawa Hiroshige 1855 In a white snowscape, the blue of river and the travelers are vividly depicted. The travelers keep off the cold by wearing straw hats and coats and walk with a hunchbacked posture. The mountains depicte in the background are also covered with snow. From the left, Mt. Fuji, Mt. Ashitaka, and the low mountain range, Mt. Ashitaka are depicted.  The series, “Views of Famous Places of Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou” was produced in 1855, when Hiroshige was 59 years old, and this is his last Toukaidou series. This series is also called “The Toukaidou in Vertical Pictures” since it is produced as the series of vertical pictures. It is considered the vertical composition is not suitable for landscape pictures since it is difficult to find the good balance in the space. However Hiroshige, the master of landscape pictures used this composition in a distinctive way, created the masterpiece series.

Utagawa Hiroshige 1855 The back side of the Torii Gate of Mishima Grand Shrine is captured from the lower angle as to look up the gate. On the right, the night scene of Mishima post station with many people is depicted. The silence of shrine in the foreground is expressed in contrast with the bustle of inns of the post station. The series, “Views of Famous Places of Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou” was produced in 1855, when Hiroshige was 59 years old, and this is his last Toukaidou series. This series is also called “The Toukaidou in Vertical Pictures” since it is produced as the series of vertical pictures. It is considered the vertical composition is not suitable for landscape pictures since it is difficult to find the good balance in the space. However Hiroshige, the master of landscape pictures used this composition in a distinctive way, created the masterpiece series.

Utagawa Hiroshige 1855 At the vertical picture series, the mountain pass of Hakone in the darkness is illustrated. While mountain is covered with darkness, the sky remains light and the upward space of the vertical picture is emphasized.

Utagawa Hiroshige 1855 At the vertical picture series, the scene of seine fishing taking place at the beach of the other side of Sakawa River is illustrated. With the depiction of vertically stretches out ocean from the middle to the background, the depth of the landscape is expressed.

Utagawa Hiroshige The production date: 1855 (Ansei 2) Publisher: Tsutaya Kichizou At the vertical picture series, ferry of the Banyu River is illustrated. The glorious view is illustrated with Mt. Oyama in the middle of rear ground and the Mt. Fuji on the left. At the Hiratsuka post station, ferries crossing the Banyu River (the name of the lower river of Sagami River) are illustrated. Until a wood bridge was constructed in Meiji period, ferry was the major transportation and travel system to cross this River. In this picture, a view of ferries crossing the Banyu River along the Toukaidou Highway between Yanagi-shima (Chigasaki city) Harbor and Suka (Hiratsuka city) Harbor is illustrated.

Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige Production date: 1855 (Ansei 2) Kanagawa, Overlooking Ocean View from a Teahouse at Dai There are several two-story teahouses at the Kanagawa’s Dai-machi’s slope, and it is said, visitors can enjoy the spectacular view from these teahouses. The white moon floating in the graduated band of blue extends straight across the sky (ten-bokashi) at the upper edge of the print conveys the calm night air of the Kanagawa post station. The series, “Views of Famous Places of Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou” was produced in 1855, when Hiroshige was 59 years old, and this is his last Toukaidou series. This series is also called “The Toukaidou in Vertical Pictures” since it is produced as the series of vertical pictures. It is considered the vertical composition is not suitable for landscape pictures since it is difficult to find the good balance in the space. However Hiroshige, the master of landscape pictures used this composition in a distinctive way, created the masterpiece series.

Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige Production date: 1855 (Ansei 2) Kawasaki, The Village of Namamugi and Tsurumi River The bridge on the right is the Tsurumi Bridge that people used to cross Tsurumi River. Several teahouses are located by the bridge. The specialty of these teahouses was Yone-manju (a bun stuffed with sweet bean paste). The grain of the wood is visible at ten-bokashi（the graduated band of blue extends straight across the sky） at the upper edge of the print and at the river. The series, “Views of Famous Places of Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou” was produced in 1855, when Hiroshige was 59 years old, and this is his last Toukaidou series. This series is also called “The Toukaidou in Vertical Pictures” since it is produced as the series of vertical pictures. It is considered the vertical composition is not suitable for landscape pictures since it is difficult to find the good balance in the space. However Hiroshige, the master of landscape pictures used this composition in a distinctive way, created the masterpiece series.

Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige Production date: 1855 (Ansei 2) In this picture, the view of Shinagawa post station from Goten-yama is illustrated. During Edo period, Goten-yama located at Takanawa Plateau was famous for its fine view of cherry-blossom flowers in spring. Using half the space to depict the sky and ocean, the vague graduated band of red extends straight at horizon gives an accent to this work. The series, “Views of Famous Places of Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou” was produced in 1855, when Hiroshige was 59 years old, and this is his last Toukaidou series. This series is also called “The Toukaidou in Vertical Pictures” since it is produced as the series of vertical pictures. It is considered the vertical composition is not suitable for landscape pictures since it is difficult to find the good balance in the space. However Hiroshige, the master of landscape pictures used this composition in a distinctive way, created the masterpiece series.