The English, from an untitled series of pictures of foreigners of the five treaty nations

The English, from an untitled series of pictures of foreigners of the five treaty nations

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Utagawa Yoshikazu

Yoshikazu studied with Kuniyoshi and is most celebrated for his designs of Yokohama-e. Prints detailing the customs, costumes, and peoples from foreign countries became very popular after the Ansei commercial treaties in 1858 between the Tokugawa shogunate and the five treaty nations (the United States, the Netherlands, Russia, Great Britain, and France). Series including foreigners were created as demand for information about these countries increased. This couple is attired in full Western costume. The man sits atop a horse in military uniform, while the woman is shown in a full, floor-length dress. The inclusion of rolled tobacco was also novel as Japanese traditionally smoked tobacco out of long pipes called kiseru.
Artist
Utagawa Yoshikazu
(Japanese, active ca. 1850 - 1870)
Title
The English, from an untitled series of pictures of foreigners of the five treaty nations
Date
2/1861
Medium
Color woodcut
Dimensions
362 x 251 mm Overall
Credit
Bequest of John H. Van Vleck
Accession No.
1980.3282
Classification
Prints
Geography
Japan

Related

1929, purchased from a dealer (Kobe, Japan) by Edward Burr Van Vleck (Madison, WI); 1943, passed through inheritance to Edward’s son, John H. Van Vleck (Madison, WI); 9 January 1980, bequeathed by John H. Van Vleck to the Elvehjem Museum of Art [now called Chazen Museum of Art]

  • Mueller, Laura. "Competition and Collaboration: Japanese Prints of the Utagawa School." Leiden, The Netherlands: Hotei Publishing, 2007. p. 191, no. 181
  • Elvehjem Museum of Art. "The Edward Burr Van Vleck Collection of Japanese Prints." Madison: Elvehjem Museum of Art, 1990. p. 344

  • Competition and Collaboration: Japanese Prints of the Utagawa School: Chazen Museum of Art, 11/3/2007–1/6/2008

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