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.

Englishman, 1861 - Intriguing portrait of an English soldier in uniform holding a gun. He wears a black shirt with gold decorations on the shoulders tucked into white pants, a bag slung across his chest. He has curly hair and a beard and mustache. The gun is a rather fanciful creation, with the bayonet in the way of the barrel. A great Yokohama-e design.

Artist - Yoshitsuya (1822 - 1866)

Image Size - 14 1/8" x 9 3/4"

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Slight paper remnants on reverse at top corners from previous mounting. A few wormholes, repaired. Slight toning, soiling, and creasing, a few spots. Please see photos for details.