Fujikawa: Böbana (The Boundary Marker) (Station #38)

Catalog note / 解説

The bar standing in the middle is the boundary marker between Fujikawa and Okazaki, the next station. Two sign boards are also standing next to the bar, indicating which samurai groups are staying at this station. Thus, when important people were either staying at or passing through a station, this information was broadcast via these signs. The samurai were welcomed by people at each station. Fujikawa (Station 38): Böbana (The Boundary Marker) is an exceptional example of Hiroshige’s use of color, and the print exhibits very little fading, a rarity in ukiyo-e prints. Unfortunately, the print had been laid down, or glued, entirely to a secondary sheet of non-archival paper. This backing was…