Comments - Terrific triptych depicting balloon ascension in America. A group of women and men are gathered on a verandah at left, watching as a large balloon flies by, a passenger waving his hat as they pass. Two other balloons are already in the sky, each bearing two American flags, and one with an anchor trailing from it. Another large flag ripples in the wind from a flagpole in the center. The women are dressed in elegant fashions, with large hoop skirts and ruffled bonnets, one with a red headband and dangling earrings. Buildings line the shore, rather imaginatively depicted based on European prints rather than actual images of a city in the United States. A fantastic composition with wonderful detail in the setting and the balloons, and beautiful rich color and fine bokashi shading in the water and sky. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has this image in its collection. An unusual subject offering fascinating insight into the Japanese depiction of foreigners.

Artist - Yoshitora (active circa 1840 - 1880)

Image Size - 14" x 28 3/8"

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Losses at three top corners and one bottom corner, wormholes and small holes, mostly near edges, repaired. Slight soiling, a few light wrinkles. Please see photos for details.