Chester, Pa.—The Widener University Art Gallery will present
a new exhibition, Along the Eastern Road: Hiroshige’s 53 Stations of the
Tokaido, from August 21 through October 20, 2012. The exhibition is free
and open to the public.
Organized by the Reading Public Museum in Reading, Pa., the
exhibition features 55 revolutionary wood-block prints by Utagawa Hiroshige
(1797-1858) recording the scenic views along the famous “Eastern Road” that
linked Edo (not Tokyo) with Kyoto, the ancient imperial capital of Japan. This
popular series, known as the Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido Road,
was published in 1834 and established Hiroshige’s reputation as the foremost
artists of the topographical landscape.
The exhibition will also include selections of Japanese art
of the same time period from the Alfred O. Deshong collection.
In 1832, Hiroshige journeyed along the historic Tokaido,
visiting the 53 towns and villages that dotter the road, which provided
lodging, refreshments and souvenirs for travelers. The route was traveled
frequently by noblemen, merchants, religious pilgrims and tourists. Hiroshige
stayed at these overnight stations and recorded numerous views of the
surrounding landscape, towns and people.
Hiroshige was trained in the tradition of the ukiyo-e—“floating
world”—wood-block print making. As a genre, landscape developed late in the ukiyo-e
period and was greatly influenced by the prints of Katsushika Hokusai
(1760-1849).
The Widener University Art Gallery is located in University
Center on 14 St. between Walnut St. and Melrose Ave. at Widener University in
Chester, Pa. Gallery hours are Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday
through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Art Gallery is closed on
Saturday, Sept. 1 in observance of Labor Day.
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