The Kisokaido Road: Yawata (Station 25)
Woodblock print on paper (Washi) • Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858)
Style & Movement
Ukiyo-e (Pictures of the Floating World)
Medium & Technique
Polychrome woodblock print (Nishiki-e) featuring ink and color on paper; includes bokashi (color gradation) and fine line carving.
Creation Period
Edo Period, circa 1835-1838 (Original series timing)
Dimensions & Format
Oban yoko-e (horizontal format), approximately 25 x 38 cm (10 x 15 inches).
Subject Description
A scenic view of the Yawata station from the series 'The Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaidō'. The composition features travelers crossing a wooden bridge over a river against a backdrop of a thatched hut and bamboo groves. The narrative focuses on the everyday travel between Edo and Kyoto during the Edo period, emphasizing the harmony between figures and the landscape.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent to Very Good; colors remain vibrant and the paper appears well-preserved with sharp edges and clean margins.
Estimated Market Value
$150 - $400 (as a high-quality modern woodblock reprint)
Auction Estimate
$100 - $300
Provenance History
Likely from a later high-quality re-edition (Showa or Heisei era) based on the pristine paper state and saturated pigments; original Edo-period prints typically show more oxidative yellowing.
Art Historical Significance
A critical piece of Kyoto-Edo landscape art. The Kisokaidō series was a collaboration between Keisai Eisen and Hiroshige, representing the peak of the ukiyo-e landscape tradition that later influenced Western Impressionism.
Notable Features
Includes Hiroshige's signature ('Hiroshige ga') and series titles in the upper right. The use of 'bokashi' (gradation) in the blue water and gray sky demonstrates high technical skill in the printing process.
Condition Issues
Slight light exposure on the right edge; no visible foxing, wormholes, or center folds typically found in 19th-century originals.
Conservation Recommendations
Mount using acid-free materials; protect with UV-filtering glass; maintain stable humidity (approx 50%) to prevent paper warping.