UTAGAWA HIROSHIGE (1797-1858)

Hiroshige created several series portraying the fifty-three stations of Tokaido, the thoroughfare connecting the Shogun's seat in Edo with the imperial capital in Kyoto. The earliest among these, commonly referred to as "The Great Tokaido," was first published in 1833 (see lot 64) and attained widespread popularity at the time. This accomplishment solidified Hiroshige's stature as one of the foremost Ukiyo-e artists, alongside Hokusai.
In 1855, Hiroshige collaborated with Tsutaya Kichizo, a prominent publisher in Edo, to release a distinctive set showcasing the fifty-three stations, oriented vertically. This series, now recognized as "The Vertical Tokaido," employed numerous compositions with elevated perspectives. Through this series, Hiroshige's advancing mastery of working with vertical formats was prominently displayed.