Fukuroi: Kites - Utagawa Hiroshige

A woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige depicting kites flying over the rural landscape of Fukuroi station. Part of the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido series.

Fukuroi: Kites is the twenty-eighth station in Utagawa Hiroshige's series titled The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido. This specific edition is known as the Reisho Tokaido. The name refers to the clerical script used for the titles in the red cartouche. It was published by Maruya Seijiro during the late Edo period. The composition is dominated by three kites soaring in a clear sky. A large rectangular kite occupies the upper left corner. It features a traditional design of a shishi (lion-dog) and red peonies. Two smaller kites fly further away. One shows a white crane against a red background. The other depicts a red sun. The kite strings create geometric lines that divide the upper half of the print. Below the kites, a flat landscape stretches towards the horizon. A narrow path winds through green rice fields. Several small figures walk along the road. A small bridge crosses a stream in the lower left. Hiroshige used the bokashi technique to create the blue colour gradation at the top of the sky and the warm tones near the horizon. This print captures a moment of leisure and seasonal activity along the famous coastal route between Edo and Kyoto. The fine lines of the kite strings demonstrate the technical skill of the woodblock carvers.