Kunisada - Arai - Gyoretsu Tokaido

Utagawa Kunisada

On April 22, 1863, the shogun, Iemochi, organized a great procession from Edo to Kyoto, accompanied by 3,000 vassals. The official reason for the journey was to visit the emperor of Japan, although in reality it was to reaffirm the shogun's power by getting closer to the divine figure of the emperor.

The Processional Tōkaidō (Gyôretsu Tôkaidô) is the name given to various series of prints inspired by a historic event.

This is “Arai” (荒井) station on the Tokaido. At the top a landscape with Iemochi arriving by boat. At the bottom, two women relax at a local inn while being served by the innkeepers.

Size: ōban

Date:  1863

Condition: Very good condition, borders as shown, not backed.

Publisher: Iseya Kanekichi

http://www.kunisada.de/Kunisada-series60ths/series206/series206-part2.htm