Kakegawa: Shiosawa Bridge - Utagawa Hiroshige

A classic ukiyo-e woodblock print by Utagawa Hiroshige depicting travellers crossing the Shiosawa Bridge at Kakegawa station.

Kakegawa is the twenty-seventh station in Utagawa Hiroshige's series, The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido. This specific edition is the Hoeido version, which is the most famous set of prints documenting the coastal road between Edo and Kyoto. The scene depicts the Shiosawa Bridge under a clear sky. In the foreground, several travellers cross the wooden structure. A man on the right carries a large pack and a red banner, likely indicating a religious pilgrimage or a specific trade. Another figure walks with a heavy load balanced on his back. To the left, a large stone torii gate marks the entrance to the path leading toward the Akiba Shrine. This shrine was a popular destination for those seeking protection against fire. Small huts and trees are visible in the middle distance, providing a sense of the local geography. Hiroshige uses a strong diagonal composition to lead the eye across the river. The blue water at the bottom of the print contrasts with the pale tones of the bridge. Distant mountains sit on the horizon. The artist employs the bokashi technique, a method of hand-applying ink to the woodblock to create soft gradations of colour in the sky and water. This technique adds a sense of atmosphere to the flat planes of the woodblock medium. The print includes a poem in the upper left corner. This text provides a literary layer to the visual scene, a common feature in ukiyo-e landscapes. The red cartouche in the upper right contains the series title and the station name. This work reflects the interest in domestic travel and famous places during the late Edo period. It captures a specific moment of daily life on the Tokaido road.