Yokohama-e - Yokohama-e are prints depicting foreigners in Yokohama after Japan was opened to trade with the West the 1850s. Previously, Japan had been closed to international trade with only a few strict exceptions, leading to curiosity among the Japanese about the new foreign arrivals and their strange clothing and customs. Many Yokohama-e designs featured people from the "Five Nations," the five countries that signed trade treaties with Japan in 1858: America, England, the Netherlands, Russia, and France. Others were fanciful depictions of foreign cities, often based on Western illustrations rather than direct observation. These prints proved popular, with hundreds of Yokohama-e published between 1859 and about 1880. These wonderful images provide a great look at this historic time period, using the traditional art form of Japanese woodblock prints to record a new subject.

Englishmen, 1860 - Fascinating Yokohama-e scene of two seated Englishmen in conversation. The man with his back to us wears a black military jacket with epaulets and a black hat topped with red feathers. His companion wears very strange voluminous white pants and a green jacket trimmed with black fur with braids and buttons across the front. His flat black hat is also decorated with red feathers, and both men have curly, light brown hair. A great imaginative look at foreigners in Japan.

Artist - Yoshitora (active circa 1836 - 1887)

Image Size - 14 1/8" x 9 1/2" + top margin as shown

Condition - This print with good detail as shown. A few repairs, staining, creasing. Please see photos for details.