Warabi-juku, Todogawa Ferry - Keisai Eisen

A woodblock print by Keisai Eisen depicting a ferry crossing at Warabi-juku, part of the series Sixty-nine Stations of the Kiso Kaidō.

This woodblock print by Keisai Eisen depicts a scene from the Kiso Kaidō, a major route connecting Edo and Kyoto. The image captures the Todogawa Ferry near Warabi-juku, the first station on the route. Eisen, a prolific artist of the late Edo period, contributed twenty-four prints to the series, which was completed by Utagawa Hiroshige. The composition focuses on a flat-bottomed ferry boat crossing the river, filled with travellers and a pack horse. The boatman stands at the stern, using a long pole to navigate the vessel across the water.

In the background, the riverbank features a small settlement with thatched-roof structures and gnarled pine trees. Two birds are depicted in flight over the water, adding a sense of movement to the quiet scene. The colour palette relies on shades of blue for the water and sky, contrasted with the earthy tones of the riverbank and the figures on the boat. The print demonstrates the technical precision of the woodblock medium, with clear outlines and a balanced arrangement of elements. The series as a whole provides a visual record of the journey along the Kiso Kaidō, documenting the various stations and the daily life of travellers during the nineteenth century. Eisen's work in this series is noted for its atmospheric quality and attention to the specific geography of the route.