Fording a Broad River
19th century
Imagine traveling in 19th-century Japan without bridges—this lively woodblock print captures that exact struggle! Hiroshige, the master of landscapes, depicts a chaotic river crossing at sunset where elegant women in patterned kimonos sit calmly on litters, completely dry. Meanwhile, muscular bearers wade chest-deep through choppy, stylized blue waves to carry them across. It’s a perfect snapshot of Edo-period travel, highlighting the stark contrast between the leisurely passengers and the hardworking men battling the current. The Shogun actually forbade bridges on major routes like the Tokaido for security, making scenes like this a common, if exhausting, reality for travelers.
- Technique
- Woodblock print
- Material
- Paper and ink
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