Utagawa Kuniyoshi

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Originally published in 1852 and 1853, this richly entertaining series of woodblock prints by master artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) features seventy-two finely executed prints, each representing a resting point along the historic Kisokaidō (Kiso Road) from Edo (modern Tokyo) to Kyoto, along with views of both endpoint cities and a title page. Although Kuniyoshi never traveled the mountainous route, he drew inspiration from historic events, kabuki plays, popular legends, and classical literature to illustrate his vision of the towns and stations. This stunning collection of colorful ukiyo-e prints showcases Kuniyoshi's artistic mastery and clever humor. Each print includes a main picture, an inset landscape of the station, and a title block. Employing parody and puns to convey humor and evade government censorship, Kuniyoshi linked each location to beloved stories of his time, such as a reimagined Odyssey and the Japanese fairy tale of Urashima. He made these tales the focal point of the main image, embedding clues in the title blocks. The work celebrates Kuniyoshi's creativity, featuring over seventy-five full-color illustrations, including reproductions of all prints in the series. An introductory essay by Sarah E. Thompson explores the history of ukiyo-e and provides descriptions of each print.