Japanese Woodblock Print

Pair of pristine Early 20th Century 1920’s-30’s Utagawa Hiroshige Japanese Woodblock Prints – Hiroshige Tokaido Series c. (Vintage original frames will be included with prints if collector wants them). 7.5″x11″ print itself 10.5″x14″ with mat 11″x14.75″ frames Beautiful pair of traditional Japanese woodblock prints from the celebrated series “Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido” by the renowned ukiyo-e master Utagawa Hiroshige. These prints are early 20th-century (circa 1920s-30s) hand-printed reproductions made using traditional woodblock techniques on textured Japanese washi-style paper. Included in this pair are two iconic river-crossing scenes from the historic Tokaido road, the famous route that connected Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto during Japan’s Edo period. Sakawa River near Odawara – Travelers carefully cross the wide river while porters and villagers navigate the flowing current, capturing the everyday challenges of travel along the Tokaido. Oi River Crossing (Kanaya / Shimada) – One of the most dramatic scenes of the series, showing groups of travelers being carried across the powerful Oi River by porters, an unforgettable image of life on Japan’s most famous highway. What makes this set particularly appealing is that both prints depict major river crossings along the Tokaido route. Rivers were some of the most dangerous and memorable obstacles faced by travelers in Edo-period Japan, and Hiroshige captured these moments with striking movement and atmosphere. These prints were produced using the traditional ukiyo-e woodblock process, where carved cherrywood blocks were hand-inked with water-based pigments and pressed into handmade paper. The result is rich color, soft tonal gradients, and subtle texture that cannot be replicated by modern printing. The original designs were created in the 1830s by Hiroshige and became some of the most famous landscape images in Japanese art history, influencing Western artists and collectors during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Early 20th-century impressions like these were produced for collectors who admired the beauty of traditional Japanese printmaking. A wonderful opportunity to own two classic river landscape scenes from one of the most famous print series in Japanese art.