Utagawa Hiroshige - 歌川広重 (1797-1858), "The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido Road" - Gojūsan tsugi meisho zue - 五十三次名所図会, Japan, late 19th century Accordion-mounted album containing 51 prints and four separate prints, ink and polychrome on paper, presenting the complete series of the fifty-three Tokaido stations in its "Tate-e" version due to the vertical orientation of the prints, nicknamed the vertical Tokaido. This is a late edition, but in very good condition with good colors. Date of first edition: 1855 (Ansei 2). Publisher: Tsutaya Kichizō (Kōeidō). Format : ōban vertical. Number of prints: 55/55. References : Ukiyo-e shūka 14 (p.252 #24), NDL (album of 55 prints), BM (album of 55 prints). Some album pages separated. Provenance: Former collection of Till Sudeck (1926-2014), ceramist in Hamburg. This series of prints, a remarkable work by Utagawa Hiroshige, was produced in the mid-19th century. It is part of his famous series dedicated to the Tokaido route, which linked Edo (now Tokyo) to Kyoto. In contrast to the traditional horizontal representation of Japanese landscapes, this work adopts a bold vertical composition, creating an impression of depth and altitude. Vertical Tokaido captures picturesque scenes with majestic mountains, suspension bridges and travelers on the way. Here, Hiroshige masters the art of contrasting natural elements and human activities, while playing on the variations in light and season that are characteristic of the ukiyo-e style.